After the Awami League headed by Sheikh Haseina returned to power in Bangladesh,India will discuss ways to cooperate in combating terrorism and may sign a transit deal and a trade pact as External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Dhaka today(Feb.9.).The two sides are also expected to discuss Bangladesh’s proposal for setting up of a joint anti-terror tactics to fight terrorism.During his tour, Mukherjee will hold talks with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister , Home Minister and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Security issues, particularly India’s concerns over the soil of Bangladesh being used by millitants will be most important topic that will be discuss during the Mukherjee’s visit.
Earlier,India warned Bangladesh against providing safe haven to terrorists active in the north eastern region.Home Minister P Chidambaram said “A message must go out to Bangladesh that it cannot allow its territory to be used by the insurgents as their safe haven”.Inflitration is become the major problem in West Bengal.
The 4,095 km border that India shares with Bangladesh,West Bengal alone covers 2,216 km.But it is along 1,145 km border in the southern part of the state that most of the influx from Bangladesh both legal and illegal takes place.The fencing that was started a few years ago only covers 530 km.Though this type of measures may have check the infiltration,the porous border complicated the situation..West Bengal is being increasingly used as a transit route by operatives of militant outfits sneaking in through its borders with Bangladesh and Nepal and heading for different parts of the country, according to Army intelligence.To compound matters there are reports of a rise in the number of sleeper cells in its districts adjoining the State’s borders with these two countries. They work for various militant outfits and facilitate the entry of militants into the country..
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