Shillong, Jan. 12: India and Bangladesh today stressed the need on maintaining good friendship and work together to save the borders between Meghalaya and the neighbouring country from the clutches of illegalities.

This was stressed at the first ever bilateral conference of deputy commissioners/district magistrates of Meghalaya (India) and Bangladesh being held here.

The two-day bilateral meet, which discussed border issues, will conclude tomorrow.

The Bangladesh delegation, which comprised deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and other officials, was led by Sylhet deputy commissioner Shahidul Islam, while the Indian delegation was led by East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal.

Senior BSF officials of Meghalaya frontier, customs officials and officials of the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) and officers from the land records and revenue department also attended the conference.

'We have to work together to save the borders between Meghalaya and our country from all illegalities through co-operation and friendship,' Islam said at the conference.

Goyal, while welcoming the Bangladesh delegates to the conference said, the meeting would help improve confidence building measures along the border.

The districts in Bangladesh bordering Meghalaya include Sylhet, Mymensingh, Sunamganj, Sherpur, Kurigram, Jamalpur and Netrokona.

Meghalaya shares a 443km border with Bangladesh. The districts bordering the neighbouring country are East Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills.

Later in the day, the Indian and Bangladeshi officials addressed mediapersons and spoke about the joint decisions taken at the conference.

Terming the first bilateral meeting as a 'fruitful and meaningful' discussion, Goyal said key issues discussed at the conference include border crimes, illegal trespassing, smuggling of contrabands, issues related to repair and maintenance of border pillars, exchange of information on border fencing works, developmental works, exchange of cultural and sports teams as well as events.

They also discussed the proposed setting up of more border haats where primary works, including preparation of detailed project reports have completed and sent to the concerned ministry.

'We discussed the measures on how to curb illegal trade whether it is smuggling of narcotic or other contraband substances like phensydyl and others,' he said.

Officials from both sides observed that timely sharing of information would be beneficial. 'We have worked out some strategies on how to share information which can yield positive results.'

Islam said the meeting would further strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

'Bangladesh is equally concerned about border issues. Together we can prevent all the illegal activities along the India-Bangladesh border,' Islam said.

The officials of both the counterpart districts hoped they can build from today's discussion and underlined the need of having a similar conference in future especially holding the conference in one of the districts of Bangladesh and discuss the issues of common interests and take joint decisions.

Illegal trespassers

On the number of militant camps in Bangladesh, Sylhet deputy commissioner Shahidul Islam said there was no specific statistics. 'In general, it is found that there are miscreants crossing the border illegally. But we are totally against any militant activities and we never shelter them,' he clarified, assuring India of Bangladesh's help in flushing out Indian militants taking shelter in their soil.

Kurigram deputy commissioner A.B.M. Azad said if there is any information from India, stern action against the militants would be taken as the Bangladesh government 'in principle is against militant activities'.

He also said criminals have no territory, no country. 'They have only one identity that they are criminals.'

Similarly, the district officials from both sides have no information about the number of criminals languishing in jails.

East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal, however, said the meeting has come to a conclusion that the moment cases are filed in India or Bangladesh, such information would be shared so that the issue related to verification of a person can be taken up accordingly.

'As of now, it is observed that till the completion of the term of sentence, we are not able to repatriate them, because of the want of verification report from the other side which leads to languishing in jails. In certain cases, the criminals stay beyond their term of sentence in jails,' he said.

Goyal said it was agreed upon that in case repatriation of those who are convicted, the list would be shared with all the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police.

But if some of the convicts are not connected to the bordering districts, then the matter has to be taken up by the ministry of home affairs.

'This initiative will help in faster verification and smoothen the process of sending the criminals back to their respective countries,' he said.

Both the sides hoped that the decision they have taken would help not only in minimising the litigants but make a strong friendship between the border districts of the two countries.