New Delhi: Despite Bangladesh's assertions that it would not allow its soil to be used for anti-India activities, Border Security Force (BSF) "strongly believes" Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) activity in that country is on the rise and cites intelligence reports suggesting the presence of al-Qaida there.

BSF also disagrees with Dhaka's argument that no terrorist training camps exist in Bangladesh and have furnished a list of 99 such locations to the neighbouring country based on accounts given by arrested terrorists.

"ISI activities and influence in Bangladesh are on the rise. Intelligence agencies have also reported having noted presence of al-Qaida operatives there," BSF director general Ajai Raj Sharma said in an interview.

"We have to believe intelligence reports and we cannot ignore these," he said.

He, however, stated that BSF had no first-hand knowledge about the al-Qaida presence.

On the terrorist training camps, he said Bangladesh was persistently denying their existence in that country. "They say they have checked up and found no such camps," Sharma said.

Pointing to Bangladesh's assertions that it would not allow its soil to be used for anti-India activities, Sharma said, "We would like to believe them. But we know militants come here from that side after training and we have caught many of such men."

He said it was for Bangladesh to frame serious policies to check such activities.

Sharma said though India had good relations with Bangladesh and it had assured co- operation in dealing with terrorism, the implementation has to be seen on the ground.

On the persisting problem with Bangladesh over the issue of illegal immigrants, the BSF chief said the Indian side had conveyed to Bangladesh everything had to be done legally.

"We have decided that if there is any problem, a meeting should be called immediately to sort it out," he said.

He, however, admitted convincing Bangladesh that more than 20 lakh of its population was living illegally in India was proving tough.

"Bangladesh has no problem in accepting back those caught immigrating and deported immediately. But regarding those who have been living here for some time, Bangladesh does not accept them as their nationals," Sharma said.

"The illegal immigrants, who have been living here for years and somehow obtained some documents, claim that they belong to such and such place in West Bengal," he said, adding that to prove the otherwise takes some time.

The issue of illegal immigrants recently flared up when BSF tried to send back 213 Bangladeshis.

With Dhaka alleging that these people were Indians being sent to Bangladesh, the 213 men, women and children remained stranded in 'no-man's land' for over a week before melting into Bangladesh.

"Some way has to be found to this problem at the government level," Sharma said.

PTI