Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=02/15/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-299669

TITLE= INDIA / BANGLADESH (L)

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

INTRO: Bangladesh's foreign minister says he has made progress during a visit to the Indian capital that focused on ways to defuse tensions between the two countries over the issue of illegal immigration. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha has a report.

TEXT: Morshed Khan, the Bangladesh foreign minister, says tensions on

the border between India and his country have been "substantially

reduced" following his meetings with Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant

Sinha and other Indian leaders.

Tension between the two normally-friendly neighbors rose after India

announced that it would deport illegal immigrants coming from

Bangladesh. Indian officials say 15 to 20-million Bangladeshis are in

India illegally, and more continue to arrive. Bangladesh denies that

its people migrate illegally to India.

The dispute triggered a standoff earlier this month as both countries

squabbled over the nationality of a group of more than 200 people

stranded on the border. India claimed they were Bangladeshis trying to

enter India. Dhaka accused India of pushing its own nationals into

Bangladesh. Border security forces from both countries went on high

alert.

The standoff ended when the group disappeared. India claimed the people

had returned to Bangladesh in the dead of night. Dhaka denied it. It

is still unclear today where those people actually are.

Nevertheless, Mr. Khan told V-O-A that both countries have decided to

settle any future dispute over illegal immigrants peacefully.

/// KHAN ACT 1 ///

The use of force, we have decided that use of force will not be applied

by anybody. It is through discussion that we will finally resolve. Because such a long border, people may come to India or people may come from India to Bangladesh. This happens on a long border. Through evidences, through documentary evidences we can always find out where they are from, and we can resolve through discussions.

/// END ACT///

Mr. Khan says both countries also need to deal with the thriving, illegal trade that takes place along the border.

He met business leaders in New Delhi, and says Dhaka wants greater

access to Indian markets to reduce its one-billion dollar trade deficit with India.

/// KHAN ACT 2 ///

This is something that concerns us because we have more than (one) billion dollar trade deficit officially. Unofficially another two and a half billion dollar illegal trade on the border -- smuggling.

/// END ACT ///

Indian officials say the two countries will hold further talks to address the problem of illegal immigration. They say Dhaka must cooperate with New Delhi to stem the flow of Bangladeshis coming to India in search of work. (Signed)

NEB/HK/AP/BK/KBK