Dhaka, July 13 - Trespassers being killed by India's Border Security Force (BSF) is the latest bone of contention at the ongoing talks between the top brass of the two neighbours' border guards.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) says the BSF personnel shot dead 55 'unarmed persons' this year, calling them 'murders'.

The BSF says the people were smugglers and cattle-lifters who move across the international border under the cover of darkness and they shoot 'in self-defence'.

The response of New Delhi to Dhaka's plea to stop the killing of unarmed Bangladeshis by the BSF 'was, as usual, lukewarm', New Age newspaper said Monday about the talks that opened Sunday.

It quoted a source as saying that Dhaka requested the Indian border guards to stop such murders and abide by the international laws and the laws of their own country.

'In response, as on previous occasions, India argued on Sunday that such killing occurred as a self-defensive measure when trespassers, especially cattle traders, crossed the border.'

The Indian delegation also said Bangladeshis should 'stop illegal trespassing which would reduce such killing'.

The Indian side also has to guard against movement of armed Islamist militants who operate on both sides of the border and separatist militant outfits active in its northeastern region.