The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Border conference between Bangladesh and India began yesterday at the BDR headquarters here to discuss a long list of contentious issues between the two neighbors.

Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Major General Shakil Ahmed is leading a 22-member team while his counterpart Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Ashish Kumar Mitra heading a 19-member delegation. The conference will conclude with the signing of a Joint Record of Discussion (JRD) on August 25.

Meanwhile, the Indian delegation leader, Ashish Mitra, paid a courtesy call on Home

Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin at the Home Ministry in the afternoon.

"During the meeting, bilateral issues came up and both sides emphasized joint activities in the frontier areas to reduce trans-border crimes," said a Home Ministry official.

The Home Adviser appreciated BSF role in Bangladesh's War of Liberation in 1971, the official added.

Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarty and senior officials were also present at the meeting.