Dhaka: Bangladesh yesterday reassured India that it will not allow its soil to be used for any terrorist activities against the neighbouring country as visiting home minister Rajnath Singh held talks with his counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan on security-related issues.

Singh, who is here on a three-day visit, co-chaired the 6th India-Bangladesh home minister-level talks with Khan.

The meeting discussed "all security related matters of interest including counter terrorism, capacity building and increased cooperation between security agencies, border management, countering illegal activities like fake currency, drug and human trafficking, consular issues", said the Indian high commission in Dhaka in a statement.

Briefing reporters after his talks with Singh, Khan said that security issues largely featured in their meeting, with particular focus on border management, cross-border crimes and illegal activities.

"We had a successful meeting," said Singh in his brief comment. He did not join Khan for the media briefing.

Khan said that Bangladesh reassured India that "we will not allow (our) soil to be used for any terrorist activities particularly against India in line with our zero tolerance policy to terrorism and militancy".

He said that India has extended all types of support to Bangladesh to counter terrorism and militancy.

"They are now exchanging militancy related information with us," he said.

"Discussions were held to ease travel arrangements between the two countries as well," he said, adding that under a revised travel agreement signed yesterday, Bangladeshi freedom fighters and elderly nationals would get a five year multiple Indian visa.

Khan said that discussions were held to make easier the visa issuance process for students and medical treatment seekers in India.

He added that the Rohingya issue was also discussed and his counterpart conveyed India's commitment to extend its assistance for safe, speedy and sustainable return of these people to Myanmar's Rakhine State.

India has offered to send more relief material and supplies to help Bangladesh deal with the needs of those in relief camps. India is simultaneously working on a project to construct pre-fabricated housing in Rakhine to ensure the displaced Rohingya are properly resettled post-deportation.

More than six lakh Rohingya Muslims have taken shelter in Bangladesh following violence in Rakhine state in August last year.

Yesterday, Singh held an "extremely fruitful" meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina where they discussed issues of mutual concern, including the menace of terrorism.

An Indian high commission statement issued after the meeting said that Singh sincerely thanked Hasina for cooperation in addressing New Delhi's "security concerns".

The statement said that Hasina agreed with Singh that joint bilateral efforts to combat militancy and terrorism yielded "special success".

According to a spokesperson from the Bangladesh prime minister's office, Singh, without naming any country, said that the expected regional collaborative actions against militancy were not possible due to some nations in the region.

"After spending three days in Bangladesh, I am heading back to New Delhi. I am deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Bangladesh. Bharat-Bangladesh Moitree Chirojeebi Hok (Long live India-bangladesh friendship)," Singh tweeted before his return to New Delhi.

(PTI)

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