India, B’desh to discuss anti-terror steps

NEW DELHI: Anti-terror co-operation , incidents of firing on India’s eastern border and extradition of top Ulfa leader Anup Chetia will top the agenda of a bilateral meeting on security between India and Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Home secretary G K Pillai will on Tuesday lead the Indian delegation to Dhaka for a twoday summit with his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdus Sobhan Sikdar.

Pillai’s discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart could pave the way for Union home minister P Chidambaram’s visit to Dhaka next month, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later this year.

Relations between the two countries have been on the upswing since Sheikh Hasina Wajed, daughter of founder of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , was sworn in as the country’s prime minister for the second time in January , 2009. Pillai’s visit is expected give further boost to the ties.

India, according to sources, will use the opportunity to press for early deportation of Anup Chetia, the Ulfa leader who has been languishing in Dhaka jail since January , 1998. The outfit has expressed its willingness to start peace talks.