New Delhi
22 June 2005
The twin issues of fencing on the border and regulating illegal
cross-border movement and activities might have invited a divergence of opinion but the
two-day India-Bangladesh foreign secretary-level talks concluded today with both sides
reaffirming their desire to strengthen their bilateral ties.
The United Nations reform came up for discussion during delegation-level talks but
Dhaka's reluctance to support New Delhi's candidature for a permanent seat in an
expanded United Nations Security Council is understood to have persisted as the
visiting delegation said it would need to examine the matter.
The foreign secretary of Bangladesh, Mr Hemayetuddin led a 5-member delegation for
talks on a wide range of issues that included security, border management and trade.
The foreign office consultations were held after a gap of almost two years. The last such
talks were held in Dhaka in 2003.
A joint statement issued late in the evening stated that India emphasised its requirement
for border fencing within and upto 150 yards of the border while Bangladesh wanted New
Delhi to conform to the 1975 border guidelines. India also reiterated its proposal for a
high-level meeting on illegal cross-border movement.
Mr Hemayetuddin told media persons after a 45-minute meeting with Union Home
Minister Shivraj Patil that Dhaka was sticking to its stated stand that no border fencing
will take place on the border. He, however, observed that a mutually acceptable solution
for issues could be found in a spirit of understanding.
India began building a fence along parts of the 4,056-kilometre (2,535-mile) border but
the work was stopped after Dhaka complained it was being built in places where the
border has not been delineated.
The two sides agreed to resume meetings of the Joint Boundary Working Groups in
August to accelerate the process of demarcating land boundary. Talks would also be
held on the exchange of enclaves and territories in adverse possessions including the
possibility of undertaking a joint census in those areas.
Talks also covered rail and road connectivity. Bangladesh proposed three new bus
routes: Dhaka - Siliguri, Dhaka - Guwahati and Dhaka - Shillong. The Bangladeshi
foreign secretary Mr Hemayetuddin also called on Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath
and discussed ways of promoting trade.
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