The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) today took up the issue of arrest of Bangladeshi nationals at the border and smuggling of narcotics from India into Bangladesh on the first day of the biannual conference with India's Border Security Force (BSF) that started today in New Delhi. 

The six-day conference began at the Chhawla Complex of BSF near Chhattarpur on the outskirts of the Indian capital this afternoon, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The BGB conveyed its concern over the attacks and abduction of Bangladeshis and listed a number of such incidents at the Director General-level meeting, Bangladeshi officials said. 

The BSF side, on the other hand, claimed that they often come under attack from Bangladeshis and the arrests come as a measure of defense.

These incidents should be dealt with by BGB and BSF at the field level through more meetings, the BSF argued.

The BSF also stressed on the need for prevention of attacks on BSF personnel by Bangladeshi criminals and smugglers and proposed joint efforts against Indian insurgent groups.  

Among the other issues that also came up on the opening day of the six-day meeting were trans-border crimes and expansion of crime-free zones. 

A 14-member delegation led by BGB Director General Maj Gen Shafeenul Islam and a 20-member BSF team led by its Director General KK Sharma are participating in the conference.

Expansion of crime-free zones in border areas, effective implementation of a comprehensive border management plan, coordinated patrolling, identifying vulnerable areas at the border, organising combined "milon mela" at agreed places and visit of medical professionals, among other issues, will be discussed at the summit.

The two sides will also sign a "joint record of discussions" on September 7.

As per a decision taken by the home secretaries of India and Bangladesh at a meeting in Dhaka in October 1993, the two sides agreed that the DG-level meetings between BGB and BSF are going to be a biannual event.

Accordingly, the director generals have been holding border coordination meetings in New Delhi and Dhaka.

The DGs are also expected to call on Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh.