Shillong Sept 27: The Inspectors General-Region Commanders Conference between the BSF and BGB concluded on Friday at the BSF Meghalaya Frontier in Shillong.

Additional Director General, Region Commander of BGB, Md Zakir Hossain led a 12-member Bangladesh delegation to the conference and discussed a number of issues related to trans border crimes.

BSF Inspector General Meghalaya Frontier, Kuldeep Saini led the Indian delegation to the conference and both sides took up a number of issues and decided to further strengthen the relationship between the two border guarding forces.

The two border guarding forces discussed issues related to maintaining peace and tranquility along the international border besides raising problems related to illegal migration, smuggling of drugs and cattle.

When asked about places along the Indo-Bangla border like Dawki where Bangladeshis came upto the Indian border and extracted boulders and sand from Umngot river, Hossain said, “We never allowed crossing of the international border by anybody. Extracting boulders from 150 yards within the international border is out of question. With our knowledge and presence, we don’t allow that to happen. If it happened, it happened in the absence and without the BGB’s knowledge. We are vigilant and we have agreed to jointly guard the border to prevent such illegal extraction.”

The BSF admitted rampant smuggling of cattle and the BSF at present, is keeping 430 cattle seized from smugglers along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh borders.

The BSF also faced problems as they have to keep the seized cattle in their respective border outposts and take care of them.

At present, the BSF is keeping 430 cattle seized from smugglers along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh borders.