Bangladesh Raises Concerns Over Indian Border Fence Activities

Bangladesh Foreign Ministry summons Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma over border tensions. The development comes hours after Bangladesh alleged that India was trying to fence five places along the Indo-Bangla border in violation of a bilateral agreement. His meeting with Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin lasted for about 45 minutes. Though the interim government of Bangladesh did not issue any official statement on the discussions, officials confirmed that the High Commissioner has been summoned.

Remarks Made by Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma said that Dhaka and New Delhi have an agreement to fence the border for security. "Our two border guarding forces — the BSF and the BGB (Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh) — are in touch in this regard. We hope that this consensus will be implemented and a cooperative approach will be adopted in dealing with cross-border crimes," he said. Earlier in the day, Adviser on Home Affairs Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said India has stopped the construction of barbed wire fencing along the border due to stiff resistance from the Border Guard Bangladesh and locals.

Remark by Home Affairs Consultant Mohammad Jehangir Alam Chowdhury

Addressing a press conference, Adviser on Home Affairs Mohammad Jehangir Alam Chowdhury said that due to some agreements signed during the tenure of the previous government, "several issues have arisen on the Bangladesh-India border. But efforts of our people and BGB have forced India to halt certain activities, including erecting barbed wire fences," he said. Alam Chowdhury said there are four Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between Bangladesh and India to govern border activities. He said that in the 1975 MoU, it has been clarified that no development work with defense capability could be done within 150 yards of the 'Zero Line'.