New Delhi: Continuing the spirit of comraderie started a year and a half ago since Sheikh Hasina became the prime minister, Bangladesh on Monday cleared 37 out of 46 jointly verified vulnerable patches that would enable India to keep infiltration, smuggling and trafficking at bay by constructing fence along the international border.
Movement of insurgents and smugglers from across the border remains a major cause of concern for India as they are using the unfenced vulnerable patches along West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya for smuggling arms and fake Indian currency notes and trafficking drugs and people.
Clerance of vulnerable patches by Bangladesh comes as a big relief for India as it will allow it to construct fence anywhere between 150 yards to zero point at the international border.
India, on its part, has agreed to train Bangladesh’s personnel in drug enforcement, investigation, cyber crime probe, checking custodial deaths and securing expertise in forensics and testing drugs.
Showcasing increasing trust in relationship between the two countries, Bangladesh home secretary Monzur Hossain said his country would not allow its territory to be used by forces inimical to India and assured handing over Ulfa fugitive Anup Chetia at the earliest.
The countries are also expected to sign the long-pending extradition treaty soon, possibly in January.