A BSF soldier (L) and a pair of BDR troopers conduct a joint pillar inspection on the Zero Line which constitutes the border between the two countries at Kamalasargar, 40 km southwest of Agartala. (AFP)

Silchar, April 10: In keeping with the changed relations between India and Bangladesh as witnessed during the recently-held SAARC meeting in New Delhi, the paramilitary forces of the two countries have evinced keen interest in forging cordial bilateral relations.

The BSF has scheduled a crucial three-day Inspector- General-level meeting in Chittagong between April 22 and 24 with the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in a bid to reach a consensus on a host of border issues.

According to the BSF officials in Cachar district, the intractable issues include, among others, the ownership of areas now lying in both the countries as adverse possession, illegal infiltration and smuggling.

A sector-level meeting, led by BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Cachar sector Desh Raj and BDR’s Sylhet sector commander Abu Taslim was held at Dobahag village in Bangladesh near the Suterkandi checkgate in India’s Karimganj district on Wednesday.

According to sources in the BSF, the talks sought steps to check land disputes and help find new measures to improve relations between the border troops.

The controversy over the possession of 220 acres of Indian land by Bangladeshi farmers in Cachar district’s Kathigorah block was the main topic of discussion during the meet.

The land stretches across the Surma river in Sylhet district. Its position was changed by the alteration of the course of the Surma in the wake of landslides along its banks on the Indian side. This gave Bangladesh the pretext to claim Indian land that lay exposed on one side. India has been objecting to Bangladeshi farmers raising crops on this no-man’s land under adverse possession of the neighbouring country.

The BSF had accused BDR personnel of encouraging territorial transgressions. They said soldiers on the other side of the border were using children as human shields to provide cover to Bangladeshi farmers illegally engaged in farming on the 220-acres strip of land.

Border tension between the two countries reached a flashpoint when a mortar fired by the paramiliatary forces of the neighbouring country killed two villagers.

However, with the change in relations, the border troops have now decided to improve ties between the two countries and help strengthen mutual trust.