Indian envoy summoned, asked to refrain from provocative actions, deployment of forces increased on both sides
The government on Sunday urged India to refrain from any provocative actions amid tensions along the border over the construction of border fencing in violation the international law at several points with additional deployment of forces on both sides.
The foreign ministry summoned the high commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on the day to express its concern over the construction of barbed wire fence and protest at the recent killing of a Bangladeshi national by the Indian Border Security Force in the border.聽
Foreign secretary Md Jashim Uddin conveyed to the Indian envoy that such activities, particularly the attempt to construct unauthorised barbed wire fence and the related operational actions by the BSF, had caused tensions and disturbances in the border, said a foreign ministry release.
鈥楾he foreign secretary called upon the government of India to advise all authorities concerned in India to refrain from any provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the shared border,鈥� said the release.
Pranay Verma was seen entering the foreign ministry at about 3:00pm.聽
鈥榃e have an understanding with regard to fencing the border for security. Our two border forces 鈥撯�� the BSF and the BGB 鈥撯�� have been in communication in this regard,鈥� Pranay Verma told reporters after the meeting that lasted for half an hour.
He expressed the hope that the understanding the two border forces had would be implemented in a cooperative approach in combating the crossborder crimes.
The Indian high commissioner said that he met the foreign secretary to discuss India鈥檚 commitment to ensuring a crime-free border and effectively addressing the challenges of smuggling and trafficking.
Earlier on the day, home affairs adviser retired lieutenant general Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that the Border Guard Bangladesh was on the alert along borders and their strong position accompanied by local people forced India to stop the construction of barbed wire fences at five points in Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Lalmonirhat.
鈥榃e have decided to send a letter to India for scrapping the unequal deals related to the border signed during the previous government,鈥� the home adviser told reporters at the ministry.
He said that BGB-BSF director general level talks would take place in February.聽
Referring to the 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for border authorities, the home affairs adviser said that there was a specific ban on defence-related activities within 150 yards from the zero line of the border.聽聽
If any country wants to construct any structure in the 150 yards of the no man鈥檚 land, it has to take permission from the other country, he said.
India had already constructed barbed wire fences in areas of 3,271 kilometres of the 4,156km border, according to the home adviser.
Foreign secretary Md Jashim Uddin expressed deep concern of the government to the Indian high commissioner over the recent activities of the BSF聽
He emphasized that the construction of barbed wire fences without proper authorisation undermined the spirit of cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.聽
The foreign secretary hoped that the upcoming BGB-BSF DG-level talks would discuss the matter at length, said the release.
Bangladesh believes that such issues should be resolved through constructive dialogue, in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements, and in a way that upholds peace and tranquility along the border, he mentioned.
Referring to the recent killing of a Bangladesh citizen in Sunamganj by the BSF, the foreign secretary expressed deep concern and disappointment over the continued repetition of border killings.
He strongly resented such killings and called for urgent actions by the Indian authorities to stop recurrence of such incidents and conduct enquiries into all the border killings and bring the perpetratos to justice.
Jashim mentioned that it was a matter of grave concern as border killings continued despite repeated firm commitments from the Indian authorities to pursue non-lethal strategy and to stop such killings, said the release.
Tensions in the bordering region have been increasing since the final week of December 2024 over the construction of fences.聽
In the latest incident, the BSF with the help of 30-35 people constructed a four-foot high barbed wire fence on a stretch of about one kilometre and a half on the zero line on Friday amid a tense situation as the BGB protested against it.
The tense situation continued on Sunday as another Bangladeshi national was injured in BSF firing, 抖阴精品 correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported.
The BSF has made no response to repeated calls the BGB has made since Friday for a flag meeting over the construction of barbed wire fences along Dahagram border at Patgram Lalmonirhat.聽
Local people remain vigilant alongside BGB members at Dahagram border.聽
BGB 51 Battalion assistant director Amir Khasru said that they called on the BSF for a flag meeting whenever the Indian force violated international border laws.聽
BGB 51 Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Selim Al Din said that they lodged strong protest when the BSF constructed any structure within 150 yards of the border.
Rajshahi BGB sector commander Colonel Md Imran Ibne A Rouf said that the BSF stopped the construction work of erecting barbed wire fence within 150 yards of the border pillars at Chapainawabganj and Naogaon borders, following border guards鈥� interventions and protests, 抖阴精品 Staff Correspondent in Rajshahi reported.聽
鈥楾he BSF was erecting the barbed wire fence, although no permanent structures or fences, except for agricultural activities, can be placed within 150 yards of the border pillars of either country as per the law,鈥� he said.
Earlier, tension gripped local villagers as the BSF on Wednesday again began constructing fences along the border at Shibganj in Chapainawabganj and at Dhamoirhat in Naogaon amid deployment of additional forces on both sides of the border.
On January 7, the Border Guard Bangladesh protested at the Indian Border Security Force installing iron electric poles and an electric device on the zero line along the border at Patgram.聽
Border killings continued to go unabated as at least 30 Bangladeshis were killed in BSF firing in 2024, according to rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra.聽
The ASK data also showed that 31 Bangladeshis were killed in BSF firing in 2023.聽
From January 2009 to November 2024, the BSF reportedly killed 588 Bangladeshis and injured 773 Bangladeshis, according to rights body Odhikar.