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Bangladesh announced on Saturday an investigation into the mutilation of the bodies of 15 Border Security Force personnel killed by the Bangladesh Rifles on the Assam border.
"We will launch an investigation" into the matter, Foreign Secretary Syed Moazzem Ali told reporters in Dhaka.
Ali said the Government of Bangladesh has received India's protest against the incident and was aware of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's concern about the matter. "Our reply will be reflective of his concern," he said.
Ali indirectly blamed the Bangladeshi villagers for the incident, saying it was not unusual for them to assault "intruders", whether within the country or along the border.
But, he added, "if the allegation is true, it is heinous action."
Replying to a question, Ali said it was true that some bodies were not properly handled as seen from photographs.
But the border is now peaceful and not a single shot has been fired in the last 24 hours, he added.
The foreign secretary said a flag meeting was held in Kamalpur to ease the tension and the two sides decided to hold meetings at regular intervals to overcome any problem that may crop up. A telephonic conversation was also held at the Sylhet front between the two sides.
Ali said India's High Commissioner Munilal Tripathi met Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad and officials from the high commission met the injured BSF men at the BDR Hospital. If doctors allow, the BSF men may be handed over on Sunday, he said.
PTI
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