India and Bangladesh decided to step up Joint Border Patrolling

India and Bangladesh on 17 February 2015 decided to step up joint patrolling along the boundary to act against criminals and smugglers. The coordinated border management plan will also help in enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

The decision was taken at the India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group meeting and the Home Secretary-level talks held in New Delhi on 16-17 February 2015. The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary LC Goyal while the Bangladeshi delegation was led by Senior Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mozammel Haque Khan.

Agreements and decisions made during the meet include
• The two sides agreed to vigil on the border by deployment of troops of Bangladesh in unguarded border areas of Bangladesh, particularly along the borders facing Tripura and Mizoram.
• The two sides agreed to act against the criminals engaged in human trafficking from Bangladesh to India and other countries.
• The two sides agreed to resolve the issues concerning fishermen drifting inadvertently across the maritime boundaries
• The two sides discussed about the security and border management-related issues between the two countries
• The meetings of Deputy Commissioners or District Magistrates of the districts bordering India and Bangladesh were also resumed, after a long time

Apart from this, LC Goyal also appreciated the steps taken by the Bangladesh authorities in acting against the carriers of fake Indian currency notes as well as the actions taken against the Indian Insurgent Groups taking shelter in the bordering areas of Bangladesh.