New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Ahead of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s India visit this month, home secretaries of the two countries are meeting to finalise three bilateral pacts expected to be signed during the trip.
Issues related to terrorism, border management, curbing activities of militants in northeast, infiltration and enhanced cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries are high on the agenda of the three-day home secretary-level talks that began Monday.

The Indian delegation is led by Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai while the five-member Bangladesh delegation is headed by Abdus Sobhan Sikder.

“The two sides are discussing security related issues such as action against militant groups and leaders, sharing of information, action on Red Corner Notice subjects through enhanced interaction… smuggling of arms, ammunitions and fake currency notes,” a home ministry official said.

The pacts expected to be finalised during the talks are: mutual legal assistance on criminal matters and extradition treaty; transfer of sentenced persons; and one on combating international terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug trafficking.

The talks assume significance in the backdrop of the arrest of two US-based terrorists of Pakistani origin David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which arrested the two on charges of plotting fresh attacks in India on behalf of the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant outfit, has also alerted Bangladesh about their alleged plans to attack the US embassy and Indian high commission in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh police had arrested several LeT operatives after FBI inputs based on the interrogation of Headley and Rana.

India expects cooperation from Bangladesh on cracking down on militant groups and northeast insurgent elements operating from its soil.

The Indian side is expected to ask Bangladesh to take steps to hand over jailed northeast militants like ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia.

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh is also expected to be taken up during the meeting that will end Wednesday, when the two sides will sign a joint statement.

This is the 10th round of home secretary-level talks between the two countries.

Hasina is expected to visit India for three days beginning Dec 19.