Tension on the Indo-Bangla border on Thursday eased with the Bangladesh Rifles taking back all the 213 illegal immigrants who were stranded on the 'zero line' for nearly one week.

The Border Security Force's acting Inspector General of West Bengal's Cooch Behar district, K C Sharma, told rediff.com: "There is no tension on the border now... last night the Bangladesh Rifles used the cover of darkness to take back all the 213 illegal immigrants."

Asked if the meeting of the inspector generals of the BSF and the BDR will take place, he said, "We have given them time for 2 pm. I will represent the BSF. Let us see how they respond under the new development."

On Wednesday Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani had made it clear that India will not accept the illegal immigrants.

Defence Minister George Fernandes had said that the situation on the border was 'out of control'.

The external affairs ministry had also mounted diplomatic pressure on Bangladesh.