Was it one of those stereotyped assurances that Dhaka gave to New Delhi when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India recently? Perhaps not, because the three security-related pacts signed during her visit marked a breakthrough on an issue over which bilateral ties had suffered during the previous Bangladesh government’s rule.
The pacts will help New Delhi to press Dhaka for the extradition of suspected insurgents from its Northeastern states who have taken shelter in Bangladeshi territory over the years. “To end terrorism, we want to cooperate. We can go to any extent to cooperate,” Hasina said.

Since Indo-Bangla ties are on an upswing since the last one year, her promise that Bangladesh will not allow its soil to be used as a base for operations by groups inimical to India, holds much significance, feel security experts.
The highlight of the visit in January was the progress made towards inking an extradition treaty between the two sides, which signed three pacts to counter terrorism and combat crime.
India and Bangladesh signed the pacts to lay out a framework to advance their security and counter-terror cooperation, setting the stage for an extradition treaty.

“The treaty will indeed be very significant,” said a senior home ministry official, in an obvious reference to the issue of extradition of ULFA leader Anup Chetia, who is wanted by India. The ULFA general secretary is under detention in Bangladesh after serving a jail term. He was convicted for travelling with fake documents and jailed for four years but has not been handed over to India for lack of an extradition treaty.

Bangladesh has hinted that Chetia would soon be handed over to India. “It’s happening. You will know when you get him (Chetia). You have already got a few. Everybody will be brought to justice,” Bangladesh High Commissioner Tariq Ahmed Karim told journalists.