New Delhi: India will raise the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh and growing Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) activities in that country directed against it when heads of border forces of the two countries meet in Dhaka from April 27.

Other "issues of mutual concern" like trans-border crimes will also form part of the talks agenda during the five-day biennial conference of director generals (DGs) of Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)," official sources said.

The Indian side, to be led by BSF director general Ajai Raj Sharma and including officials from Ministries of External Affairs and Home, will also seek to know from Bangladesh whether any progress had been made on its demand for closure of 99 terrorist training camps existing there, they said.

During the last DG-level meeting in New Delhi in October 2002, India had furnished a list of terrorist training camps with pinpoint locations to Bangladesh and demanded their closure.

Illegal immigration, a major cause of concern, will be the main issue of discussion, particularly in the backdrop of a week-long border stand- off between the two countries after BSF tried to push back 213 Bangladeshi immigrants earlier this year.

Bangladesh has so far refused to accept India's contention that millions of its nationals were illegally staying in this country and is blocking efforts to deport them back.

"There is a difference in perception and efforts are on to sort it out," a source said.

Bangladesh also disagrees with India's contention that ISI was training and helping in other ways insurgents of North East.

BSF has been repeatedly raising the issue of training camps being run by militants in Bangladesh and has provided the list of the places where the camps exist.

Even during the last conference held in Dhaka in March this year, the issue was raised by then BSF director general Gurbachan Jagat.

However, the BDR, which maintains it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorist activities, had asked for a list to prove BSF's assertion.

Differences persisted even during the last biennial meeting over the existence of training camps of North East insurgents in that country and had led to delay in the signing of the joint record of discussions by a day.

The two sides had then decided to set up a joint co-ordination committee to look into border problems.

"The committee has since been formed and is functioning to help maintain cordial relations," a source said.

PTI