Summary:
- India’s Border Security Force (BSF) attempted unauthorized construction of a barbed-wire fence along the zero line of Dahagram border in Lalmonirhat, violating international border laws that prohibit construction within 150 yards of the border.
- Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) intervened when BSF deployed 20-25 workers for fence construction spanning half a kilometer from sub-pillar 37 to 46 of main pillar 8, leading to temporary halt but BSF later resumed work.
- Senior officials from both border forces are scheduled for a flag meeting to address the escalating tensions, while additional BGB forces have been deployed to maintain heightened security.
- Local residents, including Dahagram Union Parishad member Faridul Islam, have threatened to organize protests if the illegal fence construction is not removed, adding to the growing tension in the border area.
Multiple border disputes have erupted between India and Bangladesh as India’s Border Security Force (BSF) attempts to construct fencing along several points of the shared border, leading to protests from Bangladesh’s border guards and local residents.
Latest Incidents
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) confronted BSF personnel on Friday morning when they attempted to construct a barbed wire fence along the Dahagram border in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila. The construction, involving 30-35 workers, was initially halted after BGB’s protest but later resumed despite objections.
“BSF was obstructed when they began constructing the barbed wire fence along the zero line. They stopped initially but resumed shortly after,” stated Aamir Khosru, Assistant Director of BGB’s 51 Battalion.
Multiple Flashpoints
Similar tensions have emerged at several locations:
- Sukdebpur area of Malda district, where construction remains suspended
- Chapainawabganj, where local villagers expressed anxiety over fence construction
- Mekhliganj in Cooch Behar district, where Indian villagers defied BGB warnings to erect temporary fences
Legal Context
International law prohibits any construction within 150 yards of the no-man’s land between the two countries. The BGB maintains that BSF’s attempts to build fences in this zone directly violate these regulations.
Diplomatic Response
Both forces have engaged in flag meetings to address the escalating situation. BSF South Bengal Frontier inspector-general Maninder PS Pawar and BGB brigadier-general Mohammad Humayun Kabir recently met at the Integrated Check Post at Petrapole to discuss border management and security issues.
Broader Implications
These border tensions come amid already strained diplomatic relations between the two countries following political changes in Bangladesh. The situation has affected various aspects of bilateral relations, including visa processing and medical access for Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment in India.
Current Status
Additional forces have been deployed on both sides of the border. The BGB has stationed 1.5 platoons along the affected areas while maintaining round-the-clock surveillance. Both sides are expected to hold further discussions to resolve the ongoing disputes through diplomatic channels.
Source: The Daily Star
