By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh has sought British help for its land border management and maritime security as part of a string of joint working groups it seeks to set up within the South Asian region and outside with the US, Australia and Russia.
The first such Joint Working Group (JWG) was set up with Britain Sunday to enhance counter terrorism cooperation between the two countries.
“Bangladesh has sought UK support for strengthening the coast guards to protect maritime boundary, border management and training of our law enforcers,” The Daily Star quoted the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud as saying.
The state minister said they asked the British to form a cell under JWG for border management. “They (Britain) have responded positively in this regard,” he added.
“We have sought assistance to enhance the capacity of our coast guards to protect our sea boundary, border management and in detection of explosive at the airports,” he said, adding that Britain assured him of giving necessary equipment.
“Terrorists have no boundary and they have connections among themselves, they assist each other. If we want to combat them, we must have a network and cooperation among ourselves. That’s why, the UK-Bangladesh joint working group was formed,” he said.
Lord West, who led the British side, said: “Both of our nations sadly have been victims of terrorism and I think it is very important that we work together in the face of that, counter-terrorism.”
“We are in discussion with many countries of the world because terrorism is a global threat,” said West.
Bangladesh foreign ministry officials said both Britain and US have proposed to Bangladesh and other countries in this region to form JWG to counter terrorism. “Like some other countries, we have also responded to their proposal,” an official said.
Bangladesh has a land border of over 4,300 km with India and 300 km with Myanmar.
It also has maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal where its borders with India and Myanmar remain undemarcated and have caused stand-offs in recent months.