Friday, August 25 2006 12:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Discussing border management at the seventh home secretary level meeting in Dhaka, India and Bangladesh agreed to send fact-finding teams to enclaves and territories in adverse possession and also exchanged lists of wanted criminals alleged to be taking shelter in each other's territory.

India and Bangladesh agreed to send fact-finding teams of the Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWC) to enclaves and territories in adverse possession and report to their respective governments so as to resolve a long-pending issue between the two South Asian neighbours.

"India and Bangladesh were friends, are friends and must remain friends. We must work towards making the relationship more solid, more concrete," Indian Home Secretary V.K. Duggal said in Dhaka Thursday, after meeting Bangladesh Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan.

Duggal emphasised that some perceptions have to be cleared and perhaps the transition has to be managed well.

Duggal is leading an 18-member delegation to the secretary level talks.

The JBWC had last met in Dhaka on July 16 and 17 and discussed the outstanding border issues that cause frequent skirmishes between BDR and BSF, The Daily Star said quoting a report by UNB news agency.

India and Bangladesh have accused each other of harbouring wanted criminals. India has alleged that insurgents from its northeastern states and Islamist terrorists have been allowed to operate in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, has claimed that criminals wanted by its police have been hiding in the Indian side of the border. Last week its Minister of State for Home Lutfozzaman Babar said that the Islamist militants who threw grenades at an opposition rally in August 2004 are hiding in India.

Highlighting the need to fight terrorism collectively, Duggal said, "Terrorism is nobody's friend and has no nationality."

The meeting also agreed on coordinated efforts to stop smuggling of drugs, illegal arms and explosives, and providing consular access to detainees.

The last home secretary-level talks were held in New Delhi on Oct 27 last year.