A situation of tension has arisen over the Indian Border Security Force (BSF)'s attempt to construct a barbed wire fence along the Zero Line of Dahgram border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat. After this incident, a flag meeting was held at the battalion commander level of BSF with BGB.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Rangpur-51 Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Najiur Rahman gave this information in a press release on Saturday (May 23) afternoon.
Earlier, on the same day, the meeting was held at the BSF meeting room along the Tinbigha Corridor road inside India from 11 am to 1.30 pm.
The meeting was held at the invitation of BSF, 20 yards from the Tinbigha Corridor area next to sub-pillar number 12 of DAMP 7, the main pillar of the Bangladesh-India border. 174 BSF Battalion Commandant Vinod Redhu and 30 BSF Battalion Commandant S. Narayan Mishra led a 6-member delegation on behalf of India in the meeting. On the other hand, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Rangpur-51 Battalion Captain Lt. Col. Najiur Rahman led a 7-member delegation on behalf of Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the BSF claimed, small 3-foot bamboo poles were set up to acquire land within 50 yards of the Zero Line, which is a common practice. But the way the company commander of BGB has taken position with weapons cocked (ready for firing) is undesirable and unfortunate.
BGB Commander Lieutenant Colonel Naziur Rahman said, according to the Mujib-Indira Border Agreement of 1974 and international law, no structure or structure can be built within 150 yards of the border. The BSF was forcibly erecting the poles in violation of international law and ignoring the BGB's objections. To prevent this illegal intrusion and for their own safety, the BGB cocked its weapons and went to the firing position as per the rules.
The BSF alleged that some Bangladeshi nationals were entering India and destroying the cultivation of Indian nationals. In response, the BGB captain said, “If any of our citizens enter India illegally, we will prosecute them according to the prevailing laws of the country.”
Last Friday evening, around 80 armed personnel of BSF's 174 Battalion Bhim Camp started erecting bamboo poles for barbed wire fencing, in violation of international law, within 10 to 20 yards of the Zero Line of Tinbigha Corridor without informing the BGB. As the BGB continued to work despite the interruption, under the command of Panbari Company Commander Subedar Soleman Ali, the BGB divided into 4 to 5 sections and put up a stiff resistance. The BSF was forced to retreat in the face of such a stubborn stand by the BGB and ceased operations.
