Border crimes rising, but women not trafficked: Bangladesh, India officials

Trafficking of women and children between Bangladesh and India has come down to zero in recent years, but other border crimes were rising, officials of the two countries said here Friday.

"It is a matter of happiness that the trafficking of women and children between Bangladesh and India came down to zero in recent years," Nur Mohammad Majumder, deputy commissioner of Bangladesh's Brahmanbaria district, told reporters here.

Majumder, who led the Bangladesh officials on the Wednesday-Thursday joint border conference, said: "We have decided to deal jointly against various border crimes. Smuggling of drugs from India to Bangladesh is a very big problem for us."

The meeting discussed border crimes, cattle lifting, border fencing, and the flow of drain water from India to Bangladesh, among other issues.

"From now onwards, officials of Bangladesh and India would meet once in six months to sort out contentious issues and problems relating to various construction works along the border," said West Tripura District Magistrate Kiran Gitte, who led the Indian officials.

Gitte told reporters that the meeting decided to rebuild the missing or damaged 373 border pillars jointly.

Gitte said that the Agartala Municipal Council had taken up projects to treat the water that flows to Bangladesh through two large, old drains -- Katakhal and Kalapania -- so that foul water does not flow into Bangladesh.

Bangladesh had objected to the flow of the drains into its territory.

According to the officials, 24 Indian criminals were in Bangladesh, while 20 Bangladeshi goons were taking shelter in India. Authorities of both countries would soon take steps to nab them.

"Lifting of motor bikes and taking them to Bangladesh is a big problem for Indian authorities. Bangladesh officials have assured us that they would deal with the issue strictly," said west Tripura district police chief Bijoy Nag, who also attended the meeting.