Bangladesh foreign secy meets Indian envoy over border tensions

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Last updated on: January 12, 2025 20:10 IST

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Bangladesh foreign secretary Mohammed Jashim Uddin on Sunday expressed the country's 'deep concern' over the recent border tensions during a meeting with Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma at the foreign ministry in Dhaka.

IMAGE: BSF personnel keep vigil amid high alert at the India-Bangladesh international Border on the eve of the Independence Day, at Chatrahati in South Dinajpur, West Bengal, August 14, 2024.Photograph: ANI Photo

The state-run BSS news agency earlier reported that Verma was "summoned" by the foreign ministry to discuss escalating tensions along the border. However, a press statement issued by the foreign ministry did not use that term.

"Foreign secretary ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin today expressed deep concern of the government of Bangladesh to the high commissioner of India Pranay Verma at his office at the ministry of foreign affairs over the recent activities of the Border Security Force of India along the Bangladesh-India Border," the foreign ministry said in the statement.

 

Verma entered the foreign ministry around 3:00 pm (local time). His meeting with the foreign secretary lasted about 45 minutes, BSS reported.

"I just met foreign secretary to discuss India's commitment to ensuring a crime-free border, effectively addressing challenges of smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking," Verma told the media after emerging from the meeting.

"We have an understanding with regard to fencing the border for security. BSF and BGB (Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh) have been in communication in this regard. We expect that understandings will be implemented and there will be cooperative approach to combatting crime," he added.

The development came hours after Dhaka alleged that India was trying to construct fences at five locations along the Indo-Bangla border, violating a bilateral agreement.

The foreign secretary "stressed that such activities particularly the unauthorised attempt to construct barbed wire fencing and the related operational actions by BSF, have caused tensions and disturbances along the border," the statement said.

"He emphasised that the construction of barbed wire fences without proper authorisation undermines the spirit of cooperation and friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries. He hoped that the upcoming BGB-BSF DG Level Talks would be able to discuss the matter at length," it added.

Referring to the recent killing of a Bangladesh citizen at Sunamganj by BSF, the foreign secretary expressed deep concern and disappointment over such repetition of border killings, it said.

He "strongly resented these acts of killing and called for urgent action by the Indian authorities to stop recurrence of such incidents and conduct enquiries into all these border killings and take actions against those responsible," the statement said.

The foreign secretary mentioned that it is also "a matter of grave concern that despite repeated firm commitments from the Indian authorities to pursue non-lethal strategy and to stop killings, such incidents of killing have been continuing," it added.

Jashim Uddin called upon the Indian government to "advise all concerned authorities in India to refrain from any provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the shared border".

He also said that Bangladesh believes that "such issues should be resolved through constructive dialogue, in accordance with existing bilateral agreements, and in a way that upholds peace and tranquility along the border," the statement added.

Earlier in the day, home affairs adviser Lt Gen (retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that India halted construction of barbed wire fencing along the border due to the strong opposition from the Border Guard Bangladesh and locals.

Addressing a media briefing, Chowdhury said that due to some unequal agreements signed during the previous government's tenure, 'several issues have arisen along the Bangladesh-India border.'

"However, the efforts of our people and the BGB have forced India to stop certain activities, including the construction of barbed wire fences."

Chowdhury said Bangladesh and India have four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to govern border activities.

"Of these, the 1975 MoU specifies that no development with defence potential can take place within 150 yards of the zero line. Another MoU states that no development activities can occur within this boundary without mutual consent. Any such work requires prior agreement between the two nations," he said.

The adviser said India has already fenced 3,271 kilometres of the 4,156-kilometer-long border with Bangladesh, leaving approximately 885 kilometres unfenced.

He accused the previous government led by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina of granting India unequal opportunities, which led to disputes over barbed wire fencing at 160 locations between 2010 and 2023.

"Recently, conflicts have surfaced in five areas, including (northwestern) Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Lalmonirhat, and the Tin Bigha Corridor. Thanks to the strong position of the BGB and locals, India has been forced to halt its activities," he added.

He said that under the 1974 agreement, Bangladesh handed over Berubari to India after parliamentary ratification. In return, India was supposed to provide Bangladesh access to the Tin Bigha Corridor, but it failed to fulfil this commitment or ratify the agreement in its parliament, he added.

"They used to open the corridor for an hour and then close it for another hour. Finally, in 2010, an agreement was reached to keep the corridor open 24 hours. However, this agreement also allowed India to construct a border fence on the zero line at Angarpota, violating the 150-yard rule," he said.

"Now, while we oppose this construction, we face challenges as Bangladesh is a signatory to the 2010 agreement," he said, adding that the foreign ministry took up the matter for diplomatic engagement.

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