Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi to discuss terror with Bangladesh

NEW DELHI: Smuggling of cattle for slaughtering, cross-border movement of terrorists and illegal immigration from Bangladesh are likely to be the key points that home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi will discuss with his counterpart when he visits the country for three days from November 16.

Bangladesh has indicated that it would like to discuss the killing of its citizens during cross-border firing by India’s Border Security Force. The BSF, on its part, has said that the firing has been result of its attempt to curb cattle smuggling on the directions of the Centre.

However, the BSF has been blamed on two occasions for entering a Bangladesh village on the border and killing civilians that it said were smugglers. According to the BSF, smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh has come down more than 70%, resulting in a sharp increase in the price of beef in Bangladesh.

In 2014, cattle numbering more than 17 lakh were smuggled to Bangladesh through this porous border.

Bangladesh has also conveyed that it would like to discuss the matter related to construction of border outpost near the Tripura border as agreed during the last bilateral talks between the two home secretaries.

Home ministry officials said that they had agreed to help Bangladesh to build the outpost along the Tripura border on their side. Bangladesh has sought permission to bring engineers, raw material and workers through Indian soil since the area is unapproachable from its side.