'Bangla must honour commitments on countering terror'

India urged Bangladesh to honour its commitment to act against terror groups operating from its soil and said work on fencing the border between the two countries would be speeded up.

India on Wednesday urged Bangladesh to honour its commitment to act against terror groups operating from its soil and said work on fencing the border between the two countries would be speeded up.

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"Bangladesh has its responsibilities. We expect Bangladesh to honour its commitments and assurances (on preventing the activities of terror groups from its territory)," Home Minister P Chidambaram said during question hour in the Rajya Sabha.

"We will use every instrument in our possession, including diplomacy (to ensure Bangladesh keeps its word)," the minister added.

"We have an ongoing dialogue but we are not happy with the situation. We are convinced that Indian terror groups find safe haven across the border. We have prevailed on Bangladesh to work with us in stamping out terrorism," Chidambaram maintained.

In this context, he noted that a civilian government was expected to be in place in Dhaka by the end of the month and hoped that it would take up the issue "seriously".

"One should be very moderate and careful in the use of language when we talk about another country," Chidambaram immediately retorted.

Turning to the fencing of the India-Bangladesh border, the minister said he was "not satisfied" with the progress and wanted the work speeded up.

"Only on Tuesday, the prime minister said the work must be taken up urgently and completed quickly," Chidambaram said.

Even so, he was "not in a position to give a timeline" but said "we will take every step to quicken the process".