Tuesday, November 1 2005 11:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Bangladesh yesterday (Oct 31, 2005) said India has assured that the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel will be instructed to exercise restraint while dealing with trespassers at the Indo-Bangla border.

Bangladesh appealed to India that 'innocent' Bangladeshi citizens should not be 'killed indiscriminately' even if some stepped into Indian territory by mistake, Home Secretary Sarfaraz Hossain told reporters here on return from Delhi after holding Home Secretary-level talks.

India, he said, assured that the BSF would be instructed to 'restrain themselves' in such cases. "The trespassers can be arrested and send to jail if law so demanded," he said.

The demarcation of the remaining 6.5 kilometers of Bangladesh-India border also came up for discussions along with tackling terrorists.

"Both sides agreed to take effective steps to deal with terrorists as we are pledge-bound to deal with terrorists irrespective of their nationalities," the Home Secretary said.

List of terrorists were also exchanged and India would assist Bangladesh in tracking any Bangladeshi terrorist hiding in the country, the official said.

Hossian said he reiterated that there was no terrorist camps within Bangladesh territory but if India give any specific information action would be taken.

India would help in stopping the smuggling of arms, explosives and drugs, particularly a cough syrup Phensydyl.

The two sides agreed to continue with the coordinated border patrol by BDR and BSF to maintain peace on the border.