Rajnath discusses security issues with his Bangladeshi counterpart

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with his Bangladesh Counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan in Dhaka

The issues related to counter-terrorism, capcity building and increased cooperation between the security agencies, border management, checking smuggling etc. were discussed in detail in the meeting, sources here said.

In this sixth home minister level talks Rajnath Singh also raised the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh to neighbouring Indian states that has been going on unrestricted and unchecked.

Official sources here said that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the sixth meeting of the Home Minister level talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan in Dhaka on Sunday.

According to sources, the issue of influx from Bangladesh to India figured in the meeting and the two sides agreed to tighten vigilance along the international border. Senior officials of Bangladesh have been maintaining that India has never raised the issue of illegal infiltration with the Government of Bangladesh.

Both Singh and Khan noted that there was significant progress in bilateral relationship under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina.

Both the ministers reiterated their commitment to further strengthen the bilateral ties on the basis of trust, friendship, and understanding for the mutual benefit of both.

In this context, India is working on a project to construct prefabricated housing in Rakhine state so as to meet the needs of the displaced people.

The two ministers also witnessed the signing of the Revised Travel Arrangement 2018 (RTA 2018) amending the earlier RTA 2013 for further liberalising the visa regime between the two countries, including enhanced duration for employment and student visas.

Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh paid homage to Bangladesh’s ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by laying a wreath at Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. He also offered prayers at the Dhakeshwari temple.

The Union Home Minister has since returned to New Delhi after concluding his three-day visit to Bangladesh. “I am deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Bangladesh. ‘Bharat-Bangladesh Moitree Chirojeebi Hok’ (Let India-Bangladesh Friendship Live Forever), he said in a tweet before leaving Dhaka.