The Hindu : National : India, Bangladesh border talks fail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004

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India, Bangladesh border talks fail

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA, SEPT. 21. India and Bangladesh continue to differ on the border fencing issue. Stalemate also persists over India's charge about the presence of insurgent camps in Bangladesh.

At the recent two-day bilateral talks in Dhaka, India's intentions to construct the fence within 150 yards of the Zero Line separating the two countries so that villages with high population densities adjoining the border are kept on the Indian side was reportedly unacceptable to Bangladesh, a member of the Indian delegation told The Hindu here on Monday.

"There are several Indian villages located right up to the Zero Line at different points for a total stretch of nearly 250 km along the Indo-Bangladesh border," the official said. "The Indian Government's intentions to construct the fencing closer to the Zero Line in such areas," was pointed out at the talks.

An earlier understanding to erect the fencing beyond 150 yards of the Zero Line would mean that a large number of Indian villages would fall either on the other side of the fencing or would be divided. So far, 35 per cent of fencing has been completed.

Double-entry visas

A major breakthrough achieved in the talks, however, is the move that is expected to pave the way for granting double-entry visas to Indians by the Bangladesh Government.

"So far it was only India which had been granting such visas to Bangladeshis wanting to visit India but now the benefit would be extended to Indians visiting that country," the official said.

The two sides also agreed to co-operate on matters related to bilateral security and prevention of infiltration.

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