Saturday, October 29 2005 15:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India today (Oct 29, 2005) pressed Bangladesh for setting up of 'a suitable mechanism or protocol' to sort out the problem of illegal cross-border movement, even as both sides agreed to provide consular access to insurgents and criminals arrested by either side.

Following India's insistence on having an extradition treaty and an agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Bangladesh agreed to expedite its response to the proposal.

At the end of the two-day Home Secretary level talks, the two sides issued a joint statement agreeing to work closely on security-related issues and provide consular access to insurgents and criminals arrested by either side.

Home Secretary V K Duggal, who signed the statement with his Bangladesh counterpart Sarfaraz Hossain here, said both sides, while maintaining their own national interests, worked in a friendly atmosphere with a spirit of cooperation".

Referring to the commonalities between the two countries in regard to history, culture, language and democratically elected governments, Hossain said Dhaka was 'eagerly looking forward to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit shortly' for the upcoming SAARC summit.

Hossain read out the Joint Statement, but neither side took any questions from the media.

During the talks, the visiting side clarified that media reports about India's alleged involvement in the bomb blasts in that country in August this year "Do not reflect the official position of the Government of Bangladesh. Bangladesh side also mentioned that the investigation was on", it clarified.

The two sides agreed to take all possible measures to prevent smuggling of arms and explosives, the statement said.

On the issue of fencing of the border by India, which was discussed at the meeting, Dhaka urged New Delhi to provide specific details of the places where fencing is proposed within 150 yards of the international border.

India has maintained that the border fencing being carried out by it was generally 150 yards away from the border, but at a few pockets it was within due to the difficult terrain.

The two sides stressed the need for the early signing of the agreement for cooperation in combating the problem of drugs and narcotics smuggling, especially of Phensidyle, and to cooperate and exchange information.

In order to prevent trans-border crimes, Dhaka and New Delhi agreed for enhanced vigilance and take action. They also said the two Governments were resolute in their determination to effectively curb smuggling.