BSF-BGB border coordination conference begins

Aimed at improving border domination and resolving mutual issues, a three-day border coordination conference between India's Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) began here on Monday.

During the day, the BGB delegation headed by Additional Director General, Region Commander South West Region, D.S.M. Shaheedul Islam held talks with the BSF delegation led by Inspector General South Bengal Frontier Sandeep Salunke.

"The conference, held bi-annually, is aimed at further cementing the friendship between the two border guarding forces. We discussed about improving border domination, ways to prevent smuggling and infiltration," said a BSF officer.

"The BGB delegation also expressed their happiness over the inking of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a pro-active role in finalising the deal," added the officer.

The BGB delegation will be visiting North Bengal Frontier on June 9-10 holding talks with BSF officers at Siliguri before leaving for Bangladesh on Thursday.

India and Bangladesh on Saturday ratified LBA during Modi's two-day visit to the neighbouring country.

The formal LBA ratificaiton ceremony was witnessed by Modi, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The land swap agreement envisages transfer of 111 enclaves with a total area of 17,160.63 acres to Bangladesh, while Dhaka is to transfer 51 enclaves with an area of 7,110.02 acres to India.

A 6.1-km undefined border stretch will be demarcated.