Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Dhaka and New Delhi have agreed to operationalise immediately an existing treaty for jointly combating terrorism and organized crime against the backdrop of the situation in Bangladesh.
The two sides also agreed to further strengthen the ongoing cooperation between the security and investigative agencies of the two countries through a programme of training, capacity building and information exchanges.
The issues came up for discussion during Home Minister-level bilateral talks between the two countries held in New Delhi on Thursday.
"Both the home ministers agreed on the need to immediately operationalise the Agreement on Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking," the Indian High Commission said in a statement in Dhaka on Friday a day after the meeting.
They expressed satisfaction over the signing of an addendum to the Bilateral Extradition Treaty of 2013 to further streamline the Treaty and to make it more effective, it added.
They also agreed on the necessity of signing a Repatriation Treaty to simplify and expedite the procedure of repatriation of each other’s nationals. “Both sides also agreed to undertake urgent action for the repatriation of released prisoners and victims of human trafficking.”
The Bangladesh delegation was led by the Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Indian delegation by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The two neighbours agreed to intensify further cooperation between their security and investigation agencies against the backdrop of the two back-to-back terrorist attacks in Bangladesh, according to the statement.
Mr. Singh assured Bangladesh of India’s fullest support and cooperation in its fight against terrorism, fundamentalism and radicalism. “The two countries have to be vigilant at all times and channelise efforts to defeat the terrorism and ensure peace, security and prosperity between the two countries.”
The Indian statement came as Bangladesh's home ministry last night issued a press release saying India reiterated its readiness to offer all assistance to the next-door neighbor's fight against terrorism appreciating Dhaka's firm stance against militancy.
BBN/SSR/AD