DG level BSF-BGB conference held in Dhaka

The BSF delegation lead by K K Sharma, Director General BSF, along with 18 delegation members and   the BGB delegation lead by DG Major General Abul Hossain along with 25-member delegation from officials of the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint River Commission, Department of Narcotics Control, Survey of Bangladesh and the Department of Land Record and Surveys.

BSF DG and P K Dubey, IG Meghalaya Frontier returned on Feb 22 after attending five days Border Coordination Conference.

The BSF DG strongly conveyed the BSF agendas to the Border Guard Bangladesh.

Especially, security related issues particularly about presence of cadres of Indian Insurgent Groups in Bangladesh territory were projected with documentary proofs.

Commission of trans-border crimes like smuggling of FICN, forest produce and cattle theft, dacoities in Indian teritory etc. committed by Bangladeshi nationals, criminals inside Indian territory were also discussed.

Issue of construction of Single Row Fence within 150 yards from IB at border was also deliberated upon for obtaining concurrence.

Taking the positive note of the urgency of construction of Single Row Fence in the mutual interest of both the countries to check trans-border crimes, the BGB authorities convey their concurrence in almost all the patches where the work was pending.

New patches in East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills have also been given positive nod by BGB.

BGB also conveyed their concerns upon Firing, Killing and Injuring of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals by Indian locals and smuggling of various types of Drugs, Narcotics including Phensedyle, liquor etc.

However, BSF refuted the allegations of killing of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian villagers and intimated that when the Bangladeshi criminals had illegally entered into Indian territory that too during odd hours of the night and sometimes during broad day light for committing dacoity & theft on any other illegal activities then only they might have been confronted by local villagers in self-defense. 

BSF also conveyed BGB authorities to discourage Bangladeshi nationals to cross International Boundary in order to avoid any confrontation with peace loving Indian bordering population and maintain harmony and tranquility at the border.

BSF also emphasized on the joint efforts by both the border guarding forces to curb all the illegal activities across the border.

It is to mention that Directors General level border coordination conference between the two forces is held biannually.

During the meeting  both forces agreed for effective implementation of Coordinated Border Management Plan for better border management so as to prevent cross border criminal activities, cattle smuggling, fake currency and gold smuggling, illegal migration, human trafficking.

Both sides also agreed for establishing a mechanism of sharing inputs regarding terrorists operating in border area of either country.

Both Border Guarding Forces agreed to look into each other’s perspective on border problems with an open mind and shown belief that conference will bolster the ongoing good relations between the two Border Guarding Forces.

P. K Dubey Inspector General, Meghalaya Frontier expressed his satisfaction over the decisions taken over the issues related to Meghalaya frontier like trans-border crimes, Single Row Fence, etc.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)