POBNEWS24, Dhaka Jan 14, 2025 : The situation on the Bangladesh-India border is now fairly normal and calm. The Indian BSF is not building barbed wire fences anywhere. There is no tension. The situation is stable on the border. There is a meeting at the level of BGB-BSF Director Generals of the two countries in February. The issue will be raised there. Apart from this, the uneven agreements between the two countries on the border are being reviewed and efforts are being made to resolve them. In this regard, the Home Ministry is also sending letters to the concerned parties, said Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Home and Agriculture Advisor to the interim government in Bangladesh.
Two days ago, Bangladesh summoned the Indian High Commissioner to protest the attempt to build barbed wire fences at five places on the border. On Monday (January 13), South Block summoned Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Nurul Islam in Delhi.
Five days ago, tension arose over the construction of a barbed wire fence by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on the Sukhdevpur border with India on the Chauka border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. After January 6, the BSF also tried to build a barbed wire fence on the Kurigram and Naogaon borders. There were allegations of construction of fences at a total of five points. However, in the face of protests from Bangladesh, the BSF stopped the construction of the fence on Saturday.
During the tension, the Bangladesh Border Security Force (BSF) increased patrols on the border with Bangladesh. Along with BGB members, ordinary people from the border area also participated in the guarding.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry summoned Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Kumar Verma, on Sunday. After a meeting with Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin, Pranay Verma said, ‘The adversities on the border of the two countries will be resolved effectively.’ Referring to an agreement on the barbed wire fence at the border, he said, ‘Communications are ongoing between the border guarding forces of the two countries, BSF and BGB.’ During this, the Indian High Commissioner also spoke about the obstacles to resolving the smuggling crisis at the border.
Earlier, at a press conference organized by the Bangladesh Home Ministry on Saturday, Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury had said, ‘The matter will be informed to the Indian High Commission through the Foreign Ministry to ensure that no untoward incident occurs.’
According to the Bangladesh-India Joint Border Guidelines-1975, there is a clear ban on the completion of any defense-related work within 150 yards of the zero line of both countries. In addition, there is an obligation for both countries to obtain each other’s consent for the completion of any development work within 150 yards of the zero line, if necessary.
The advisor also said that Indian authorities have installed barbed wire fences at 3,271 kilometers of the existing 4,156-kilometer border between Bangladesh and India, and that barbed wire fences have not been constructed at 885 kilometers. Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi, responding to a question at the Indian Army’s annual press conference on Monday, said, “There is no problem in the military-level relations between the two countries (Bangladesh-India). Animosity in the relationship will not bring good results for either party. And discussions on state relations can only be held when there is an elected government. I am in regular contact with the Bangladesh Army Chief. We even spoke through a video conference on November 24.”
