Cattle smuggling, illegal infiltration on Indo-Bangla HS-level talks agenda
New Delhi: Cattle smuggling and illegal infiltration are top on the agenda for the Indo-Bangla Home Secretary-level talks beginning Monday, which come close on the heels of deportation of ULFA leader Anup Chetia from the neighbouring country. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi is expected to raise the issue of cattle smuggling to Bangladesh with his counterpart Mohammad Haque Khan and seek cooperation from that country to completely halt it.
According to an official estimate, smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh has come down by more than 70 per cent, resulting in a sharp increase in the price of beef in Bangladesh. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said in September that about 20-22 lakh cattle used to be smuggled every year to Bangladesh and it has come down to 2 to 2.5 lakh cattle this year. During the two-day talks, the Indian delegation is also likely to raise the issue of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and explore ways how to check it. The BJP, before coming to power, had made it as an election issue.
The meeting comes days after deportation of ULFA 'general secretary' Chetia from Bangladesh and subsequent deportation of one of the most wanted criminals of Bangladesh, Nur Hossain from India. Bangladesh may raise the issue of 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.
Dhaka may discuss the issue of construction of border outpost near the Tripura border as agreed during the last bilateral talks between the two Home Secretaries.
India 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 own territory.
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