Biden voices concerns on people's safety in Bangladesh during call with PM Modi

In his call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week US President Joe Biden expressed his concerns about the safety of people in Bangladesh and the future of democratic institutions there the White House has said reported news agency PTIDuring the call US President Joe Biden and PM Modi shared concerns on the recent developments in Bangladesh White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told a press conference on WednesdayI mean US President Joe Biden made clear his continued concerns about the safety and security of the people in Bangladesh and the future of their democratic institutions he said in response to a question reported PTIThe statement issued by the White House after the August 26 call did not mention Bangladesh However a post on X by PM Modi and a statement issued by his office mentioned that Bangladesh was discussed during the telephonic conversationThe two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh They emphasized restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities particularly Hindus in Bangladesh the Prime Ministers Office PMO had saidIn his post on X PM Modi had said We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy and ensuring the safety and security of minorities especially Hindus in BangladeshIndia proposes dates for scheduled border talks with BangladeshA highlevel diplomatic delegation of Bangladesh may arrive in India next month for the traditional biannual border talks with their New Delhi counterparts official sources told PTIThe talks between the two sides led by the BSF director general DG and the DG of the Border Guard Bangladesh BGB will be the first meeting of senior officials of the two neighbours for the exchange and sharing of information after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government last monthSources told PTI that India has proposed two sets of dates for these talks one for later this month and the second for OctoberThe Bangladeshi side has indicated that they may go for the later date and may travel to India for about fourfive days including the days of arrival and exit they saidThis will be the 55th edition of the DGlevel talks between the BSF and the BGB which also includes officials from the Home Ministry External Affairs Ministry antinarcotics customs and some other federal agencies from both the countries who have stakes in border managementThe last edition of these talks was held in Dhaka in MarchDuring that meeting the Indian delegation led by then BSF DG Nitin Agrawal was able to extract Bangladeshs consent for the creation of a singlerow fence at 92 vulnerable patches along the more than 4000kmlong front sources told PTIThis decision first approved in 2012 was also recorded by the two sides in the joint record of discussions signed at the end of the meeting It was a major gain for India as this completed fence infrastructure will further strengthen security along the IndiaBangladesh boundary an officer who was part of these deliberations told PTIThe BSF guards the 4096kmlong international Indian front with Bangladesh on the countrys eastern sideWith inputs from PTI