Rajnath Singh in Dhaka: Bangladesh says it will not allow terrorist activities against India on its soil

Dhaka: Bangladesh on Sunday reassured India that it will not allow its soil to be used for any terrorist activities against the neighbouring country, as visiting Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh held talks with his counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan on security-related issues. Singh, who is in Dhaka on a three-day visit , co-chaired with Khan the 6th India-Bangladesh home minister-level talks. At the meeting, they discussed “all security-related matters of interest, including counter-terrorism, capacity-building and increased cooperation between security agencies, border management, countering illegal activities such as fake currency smuggling, drug and human trafficking and consular issues”, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement. [caption id=“attachment_4746571” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Rajnath Singh with the home minister of Bangladesh. Image Courtesy: Twitter/HMOIndia[/caption] Briefing reporters after his talks with Singh, Khan said security issues largely featured at their meeting, with particular focus on border management, cross-border crimes and illegal activities. Singh did not join Khan for the media briefing. “We had a successful meeting,” he said in his brief comment. Khan said Bangladesh reassured India that “we will not allow its soil to be used for any terrorist activities, particularly against India in line with our zero tolerance policy to terrorism and militancy”. He said India has extended all types of support to Bangladesh to counter terrorism and militancy. “They are now exchanging militancy related information with us. Discussions were held to ease travel arrangements between the two countries as well,” he said, adding that under a revised travel agreement signed on Sunday, Bangladeshi freedom fighters and elderly nationals would get five years’ multiple Indian visas. Khan said discussions were held to make easier the visa issuance process for students and those seeking medical treatment in India. He said that the Rohingya issue was also discussed and his counterpart conveyed India’s commitment to extend its assistance for safe, speedy and sustainable return of these people to Myanmar’s Rakhine state. India has offered to send more relief material and supplies to help Bangladesh deal with the needs of those in the relief camps. India is simultaneously working on a project to construct pre-fabricated housing in Rakhine to ensure that the displaced Rohingya are properly resettled post-deportation. More than six lakh Rohingya Muslims have taken refuge in Bangladesh after violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August last year. On Saturday, Singh held an “extremely fruitful” meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they discussed issues of mutual concern, including the menace of terrorism. An Indian High Commission statement issued after the meeting said Singh sincerely thanked Hasina for cooperation in addressing New Delhi’s “security concerns”. The statement said Hasina agreed with Singh that joint bilateral efforts to combat militancy and terrorism yielded “special success”. According to a spokesperson from the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Singh, without naming any country, said the expected regional collaborative actions against militancy was not possible due to some nations in the region. “After spending three days in Bangladesh, I am heading back to New Delhi. I am deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Bangladesh. Bharat-Bangladesh moitree chirojeebi hok (long live the India-Bangladesh friendship),” Singh tweeted before his return to New Delhi.