Maj Gen Mainul Islam, director general (DG) of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), said yesterday restructuring the BDR will take time as the government will review his proposal in this regard along with suggestions from various quarters.

"The proposal he submitted is not the end (of the process). It will be reviewed by various departments of the government, and opinions of various quarters will be considered," he said.

The BDR chief was talking to journalists on return from New Delhi after attending the DG-level meeting between the border guards of India and Bangladesh on over border security and management.

Asked how long it would take to complete the BDR restructuring, Mainul said, "It would have been the best if it is completed tomorrow. But it is not possible."

Replying to a query, he said Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Director General ML Kumawat confirmed that no BDR member with arms entered India nor was arrested there.

Asked about Indian media reports that BSF would assist reorganising the BDR, he said it would be in the form exchange of information between the two border forces.

At the three-day meeting (March 30-April 1) between the BDR and BSF, the two sides agreed to gear up joint efforts to prevent trans-border crimes like illegal movement across the border, trafficking of women and children, drug smuggling and gunrunning.

He said that the BSF chief praised Bangladesh government's commitment not to allow use of Bangladesh territory for any activity against India.