New Delhi/Guwahati, Aug. 2: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today said efforts to persuade Bangladesh to eliminate insurgent camps would be made by external affairs minister K. Natwar Singh, who is scheduled to make a three-day trip to the neighbouring country between Saturday and Monday.

Gogoi was informed about Natwar Singh?s visit to Dhaka by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whom he met this morning to discuss a host of issues, including the proposed peace process with the Ulfa.

?The Centre is keen on talks (with the Ulfa), but it has to be a two-way traffic,? the chief minister told mediapersons at Delhi Press Club.

The government is keen that a dialogue be held with the Ulfa, but is also adopting measures such as military operations and persuasion of neighbouring countries to eradicate camps, so that insurgents would be deprived of safe sanctuaries.

The Centre has stressed the need for a cessation of violence before talks begin. But incidents in the past few months reveal that the Ulfa does not seem to be in a mood to shun violence, adding to the concern of the security forces and the state government that is desperate to improve the situation ahead of the Assembly polls early next year.

Though Gogoi did not elaborate on what he meant by ?two-way traffic?, it is apparent that for negotiations to begin, the terms and conditions would have to be acceptable to both sides.

When asked if the Ulfa would step up its campaign of violence ahead of Independence Day, the chief minister said vigilance was being enhanced and that ?threats are quite common prior to August 15 and Republic Day?.

Today, a day after the Ulfa threatened to renew its offensive with fresh vigour, Dispur decided to cajole the Centre to hold a dialogue with the outfit.

Dispur argued that any deterioration in law and order in the run-up to the Assembly polls would deal a severe blow to the party?s poll prospects.

The Ulfa yesterday lambasted the Centre for failing to respond to its letter of consent for holding talks with the Centre on the condition that its demand for sovereignty of Assam was included in the discussions.

In Guwahati, the metropolitan administration today sealed Judges Field and also temporarily took over the Gauhati Town Club till August 17, for security reasons, ahead of Independence Day.

The field will be the venue for the official function. No one, barring police and civil officials on duty, will be allowed to enter the playground.

The players of Gauhati Town Club have been asked to vacate the club by this evening to ensure foolproof security arrangements.