Terrorists continue to operate from Bangladesh, says former diplomat

New Delhi, Apr.5 (ANI): The Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Mr. Satinder K Lamba, today said terrorists and insurgents continue to operate from Bangladesh despite the government's efforts to contain them.

Delivering the keynote address at the "Fourth India-Bangladesh Security Dialogue" organised by Observer Research Foundation in association with the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), Lamba said "there was a need to sustain the current levels of cooperation to jointly eradicate the menace of insurgency, terrorism and militancy from our soil".

"It is well-known that terrorists, insurgents, militants and criminal elements respect no civilian law and territorial boundaries. Some of these groups and their associated agencies continue to have their hideouts and network of the fake Indian currency notes in Bangladesh," Lamba said.

He said India greatly appreciated the efforts of the Bangladesh government in taking actions against the inimical elements operating from Bangladesh.

Lamba also stressed on the need to urgently finalise the Extradition Treaty. Noting that three security related agreements have already been signed between the countries, he hoped that the Extradition Treaty will be finalised soon to complete the process of putting in place the framework for cooperation on security related matters.

A 12-member Bangladesh delegation, led by BEI President and former foreign secretary Farooq Sobhan, is attending the two-day ORF-BEI conference, the fourth in the series. The conference is held in India and Bangladesh alternatively, the last being in Dhaka.

Lamba pointed out that due to the porous nature of the India-Bangladesh border, there has been considerable cross border criminal activity, including illegal trade in arms and explosives, counterfeit currency, trafficking in narcotics and trafficking of women and children.

"These problems pose a threat to the social and economic well-being of both India and Bangladesh," Lamba said.

He assured the delegates that India is determined to complete the ratification process and implement the Agreement on the Land Boundary, signed during the last visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

BEI President Farooq Sobhan said close cooperation and hard work was necessary to sustain the progressing relationship between the two countries.

ORF Centre of International Relations President M. Rasgotra said while relations with Pakistan are important for India, it is Bangladesh which is more important. For closer relations with Bangladesh, effective border management is absolutely necessary, he said. (ANI)