Bangladesh does not harbour anti-India terrorists: Minister

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh today said it does not harbour any anti-India terrorist on its soil and gave an assurance that the much awaited extradition treaty between the two countries would be signed soon.

At a joint press conference here with her counterpart P Chidambaram, Bangladesh Home Minister Shahara Khatun said like India, her country too was a victim of terrorism and would do everything to eradicate the menace from its soil.

"Bangladesh will not tolerate any anti-India activity on its soil. We have not allowed in the past, nor we will do in the future. Both countries are victims of terrorism. So, there is no question of harbouring any one," she said after the Home Minister-level dialogue between the two sides.

She said this when asked about terrorists, who carried out heinous acts in India, having links with Bangladesh.

Khatun, said joint efforts were required to eliminate terrorists and Dhaka has taken many steps to deal with the extremists forces.

Asked when the extradition treaty between the two countries would be signed, Khatun said the issue was discussed threadbare at the meeting and hoped that it would be concluded in the "near future".

Chidambaram said the extradition pact was in the final stages of consideration by the Bangladesh government and "I think it is moving forward".

The treaty would facilitate handing over of ULFA leader Anup Chetia, currently lodged in a Dhaka jail, to India.

The Indian Home Minister described the bilateral meeting as extremely cordial and fruitful, saying the India-Bangladesh relation has reached a new high.