The extradition of Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia, who has been in the custody of Bangladesh, and handing over of Bangladeshi criminals lodged in Indian jails is expected to figure high on the agenda of the three-day home secretary- level talks between India and Bangladesh to be held in Dhaka beginning September 2.
Government sources said the Indian side is expected to press for Chetia’s extradition to India as he has already expressed his desire to return. Chetia was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 and is under detention on completion of his seven-year jail term for cross-border intrusion, carrying fake passports and illegally keeping foreign currencies.
He has completed his prison term but is still in jail in line with a Bangladeshi high court directive in August 2003 to keep him in safe custody until the government made a decision on his plea seeking political asylum in Bangladesh.
Union home secretary Anil Goswami will also discuss with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mozammel Haque Khan issues like cooperation in counter-terror initiatives, eviction of Indian insurgent groups from Bangladesh, curbing illegal cross-border movement of people and goods besides others. Official sources said the two delegations, to be led by their home secretaries, are expected to raise issues related to border security, safety of border residents and illegal activities taking place along the over 4,000-km frontier.