Photo: Messenger
Gradually, tensions have been running high between Bangladesh and India boarder. The relations between the two countries are not very comfortable due to issues such as floods, border killings, allegations of minority persecution, visa suspension and later restrictions. In the meantime, India's attempt to erect a barbed wire fence in violation of international border laws is adding fuel to the fire. In which the border guards of the two countries have also joined the border guards.
The border guards of the two countries have increased surveillance since the interim government took office. The governments of the two countries have also given conflicting responses to various incidents on the border. Overall, the tension on the border between the two countries is higher than ever before. Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, India has been erecting barbed wire fences in border management. There are allegations that it is installing electrical devices and sophisticated cameras for surveillance. Where there is no opportunity to erect a barbed wire fence due to rivers or any other reason, special devices including high-powered cameras are being installed for surveillance.
India also tightened the border. It increased patrols. In the overall situation, New Delhi initially stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis. A few days later, it introduced medical and emergency visas, which are still ongoing. Allegations of torture against followers of traditional religions and propaganda organized in the Indian media led to an attack on the Bangladesh embassy in Agartala. Although the foreign secretary-level meeting of the two countries and various discussions in the past month have shown that relations are easing somewhat. Recently, tension has arisen on the border after the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) raised objections to the construction of Indian Border Guard Force facilities on the borders of some districts of Bangladesh. Especially, the Bangladesh side has blocked the construction of fences on the Indian side of the border adjacent to Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts. And the BSF has tried to erect fences on the border in Dahagram of Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat several times. However, he could not do so in the face of obstacles from BGB members.
Amidst the tension over the border issue, Dhaka summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in a strong protest. Recently, he came to discuss with Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin. Later, he told reporters that there is an understanding between the two countries regarding the installation of barbed wire fencing on the border. Later, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh's Deputy High Commissioner to India, Nurul Islam. He was called to discuss the tense situation between Delhi and Dhaka.
Not only the government, but political parties can play a role in this through negotiations. India has to be made to understand that not only do we need them, they also need us, said Assistant Professor of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University Mostakim Bin Motahar।
It is known that the Indian authorities have installed barbed wire fencing at 3,271 kilometers of the existing 4,156 kilometers of border between Bangladesh and India, and barbed wire fencing has not been constructed at 885 kilometers. India's BSF wants to put up barbed wire fences in those places.
Last week, tension arose over the construction of a barbed wire fence by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on the Sukhdevpur border of India across the Chauka border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. On January 8, a flag meeting was held between the BGB and BSF at the battalion commander level at the Chauka border.
According to international law, if anything is done within 150 yards of the border line, the border security force on the other side must be informed according to the correct rules. But even though India dug up soil within 100 yards, the BSF did not inform the Bangladeshi BGB, said Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, commander of the 59th BGB battalion. Later, the BGB objected to this and the work was temporarily stopped. On that day, residents of the border areas of the two countries were also seen joining the BGB-BSF. Such incidents were not seen very often in the past.
Regarding the issue of suspending fencing along the Chapainawabganj border, the BSF said on January 10 that fencing work on vulnerable parts of the Bangladesh-India border is being suspended for the time being to avoid tension between the two countries.
Messenger/JRTarek
