Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at a battalion level flag meeting with Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) here yesterday expressed sorrow over the killing of a Bangladeshi civilian on Goburda border in India on April 2.

In response to the protest by BDR over the killing, BSF delegation told the meeting that they would take action against the BSF jawans who gunned down the Bangladeshi national.

Earlier on March 19, Indian Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai while addressing a security dialogue in New Delhi said India might declare a unilateral "no-firing" along its border with Bangladesh for a year to avoid civilian deaths in crossfire.

The battalion level flag meeting between the border guards was held on the no man's land at Baladghata near Baikari border in Sadar upazila opposite to Kaijuri camp of India. The meeting took place in response to two separate letters sent by BDR to BSF protesting the killing of the Bangladeshi national and

digging of Kaijuri canal on the Zero point by BSF.

The BSF men engaged Indian nationals to dig Kaijuri canal near Baikari border in Sadar upazila in the morning of April 2. Amidst protest by BDR, BSF men compelled to stop the digging of the canal.

If the BSF authorities want to dig the canal, they have to inform BDR in writing about the matter, BDR side told the meeting. BDR men will then send the letter to BDR headquarters to know opinion of their higher authorities.

The BSF delegation agreed with the BDR proposal on digging of the canal.

The meeting ended with an agreement that both the border guards would work sincerely to maintain peaceful situation in the bordering areas and settle the prevailing border issues through dialogue.

The border guards also vowed to curb smuggling of drugs.

Lt. Col Iqbal Aziz, commanding officer 41 rifles battalion, led the BDR side while Maj Ananda Singh, commandant of 194 Kalyani BSF Battalion, led their side.