"We both (Border Security Force and Border Guards Bangladesh) are aware that the issue is very very serious as a large number of Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh and India. Both the forces discussed the issue and have taken steps to curb the menace," BSF Director General K.K. Sharma said here.
He was addressing media persons at the end of a four-day bi-annual Directors General-level talks, which began on October 2, between a 26-member Indian team and a 24-member Bangladesh delegation led by BGB chief Major General Abul Hossain.
The BSF officer said his counterpart had assured of major steps to deal with the movement of Rohingya Muslims, who have fled Rakhine state in Myanmar after security forces' action since August 25, by setting up roadblocks/checkpoints on various routes to ensure no one crossed into Indian territory illegally.
Sharma said BSF had identified "140 vulnerable border posts" along the 4,096.7-km India-Bangladesh border, from where some touts and organised groups help Rohingyas sneak into India.
"There are organised criminals on both sides who assist in their (Rohingyas) entry to India. So, we are mounting a campaign against these touts. We have deployed forces to strengthen security at these vulnerable posts. More manpower, technological inputs, and gadgets have been put in place."
Surveillance equipment, the BSF chief said, from other BSF posts have been diverted and deployed all along the eastern frontier.
"We are in touch with our sister agencies, intelligence agencies, to identify and take action against these touts. Because, these people (Rohingyas) cannot come on their own," Sharma said.
The BSF Director General said the border force has "sensitised" local populace to inform authorities about people entering Indian illegally.
He said the BSF is constantly in touch with the BGB on a daily basis. "Our commanders on the border can speak to each other quickly and share intelligence on any movement of Rohingyas."
BGB chief Hossain told the media that his country had already begun mandatory registration of all Rohingyas entering Bangladesh.
He said his country was planning to fence the country's border with Myanmar.
"Five lakh people (Rohingyas) have already come to Bangladesh. It is a problem for our country... they (Rohingyas) cannot spread all over the country. Our government has taken a decision and the refugees have been housed in Cox's Bazar district," the BGB chief said.
He said the BGB had identified exit and entry points (of Rohingyas), which are being guarded by the force, and have started registration of the refugees.
"Our citizens have been informed to share details on any such person to law enforcement agencies," Hossain said, adding Myanmar had told Bangladesh to set up a joint working committee to find out Rohingyas and send them back to their native place.
At the DG-level talks, the BGB raised issues like firing, killing, injuring, and beating of Bangladesh nationals by the BSF as well as arrest or detention of Bangladesh citizens.
Smuggling of firearms, ammunition, explosive, drugs, development works within 150 yards of the International Border, assistance for river bank protection works along the border, confidence-building measure, exchange of visit by BGB-BSF medical team, prevention against attacks on BSF personnel by Bangladeshi criminals, and prevention of trans-border crimes was discussed at the meet.
On Friday, a Joint Record of Discussions was signed by the Directors General of BSF and BGB. The next DG-level talk will be hosted by the BGB in Dhaka in February/March 2018.
Acting on a tip-off about smuggling from Bangladesh, the Border Security Force troopers of border outpost Churiantpur in Malda district planned an ambush in and around the Indo-Bangladesh Boundary Fence (IBBF) area on Tuesday evening.
"The BSF recovered a bundle of 260 fake Rs 2,000 notes from the border area and handed over the seized notes to Kaliachak police station for further action," RPS Jaswal, Deputy Inspector General of BSF's South Bengal frontier, said in a press release.
"The troopers challenged a suspected smuggler who was about to collect the package thrown from the Bangladesh side of the fence but the suspect fled away taking advantage of the darkness," he said.
The BSF of the South Bengal Frontier has seized counterfeit Indian currency notes of the face value of more than Rs 36 lakh and apprehended five smugglers so far during 2017.
According to the BSF official, senior BSF and BGB officials accompanied by locally posted troopers greeted each other on Saturday and Sunday at many places along the 4,096-km Bangladesh frontier with India's West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
"We exchange greetings and sweets on every important religious and national day event and programmes of both countries," the official said.
Meanwhile, a large number of Muslims also assembled in mosques and Eidgahs to offer special prayers in Tripura.
Large congregation offered prayers at Shivnagar, Shantipara, Gulchakkar, Aralia on the outskirts of the capital city, and other parts of the state including Sonamura (in western Tripura), Udaipur (in southern Tripura), Kailasahar and Dharmanagar (in northern Tripura).
In an unique gesture, Tipu Sultan, a journalist at leading Tripura daily 'Syandan Patrika' donated Rs 10,000 to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund instead of making an animal sacrifice.
"Since last year, instead of making 'qurbani' (animal sacrifice), my family and I donate money to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," Tipu Sultan said after handing over a cheque to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Sunday night.
Appreciating the gesture, Deb said: "I believe everyone will be influenced by his (Tipu Sultan) noble gesture."
The Chief Minister and Governor Ramesh Bais have greeted the people of the state on the occasion of Eid.
In Christian-majority Mizoram, thousands of devout Muslims offered special prayers in Bara Bazaar, Zarkawt as well as at other mosques and Eidgahs in the state.