By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Bangladesh’s new paramilitary border force chief is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi Monday on a three-day trip to India to discuss border issues between the two neighbouring countries, a foreign ministry official said here Sunday.
Mainul Islam, who was appointed as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) chief following the killing of Major General Shakil Ahmed during a mutiny last month, will meet India’s Border Security Force (BSF) head M.L. Kumawat March 31, the official said, adding that the meeting would basically be a “familiarisation meeting” between the two.
The chiefs of the two border guards will discuss border management to check cross-border crimes and maintain peace along the common border. The two countries have 4,200-km porous borders.
An official of the BDR said Mainul will lead a six-member delegation to New Delhi and attend a commemorative meeting in the Indian capital in honour of slain Major General Shakil Ahmed.
The BDR chief will express his gratitude to the Indian BSF for its cooperation in maintaining a peaceful border during the mutiny at the BDR headquarters last month.
Some rebel BDR officials staged mutiny against their commanding army officers Feb 25 morning at BDR headquarters in Dhaka, leaving more than 70 people dead, including civilians.
The mutiny lasted more than 30 hours and ended Feb 26 evening with the surrender of the mutinous BDR members, following rounds of negotiations between the government and the mutineers.
The investigations into the mutiny by the government and the army are underway.