February 16, 2003	Sunday	Zul Hijjah 14, 1423

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan said on Saturday he was worried about the issue of illegal immigration between his country and India.

“Illegal immigration on both sides is a matter of concern,” Morshed Khan told reporters in New Delhi.

“We don’t know the number, but it can happen with 4,000-odd miles of border between us. The number could be 10 or five or none.

“There are set procedures to deal with it.”

On Saturday, Mr Morshed called on Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, who is also home minister.

Senior home ministry official R.C.A. Jain told reporters after the meeting with Advani that “there was no express commitment for any specific action or promise of demonstrative action from their side”.

“Unfortunately no,” said Jain when asked whether there was any forward movement during the talks with Advani.

Emerging from the meeting, the foreign minister said it was just a “courtesy call” and both countries had agreed to work together on various issues.

Official sources here said Vajpayee reiterated India’s concerns over illegal immigration.

However, substantive talks on the issue were held between Morshed Khan and Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha on Friday, during which the two sides decided to hold a foreign secretary-level talks in Dhaka in April to resolve the thorny immigration issue.

India announced last month a drive to deport millions of Bangladeshis it said had entered its territory illegally and could pose a security threat.

The issue bubbled over into a major diplomatic crisis last week when a group of snake charmers was apprehended by Indian border guards in eastern West Bengal state.

New Delhi said the 213 men, women and children held in no man’s land between the two countries were Bangladeshis and should be taken back, while Dhaka said they were Indians.

After days of diplomatic tensions, the group left no man’s land. India claims they were taken back by Bangladesh.

“We have not taken them back. I don’t know where they have gone. They have gone back to where ever they came from, but we have not taken them,” he said.

The Amnesty International said on Saturday it was gravely concerned over recent reports about the fate of people whose nationality was disputed along the Indian-Bangladeshi border.—AFP