NEW DELHI: The objections raised by Bangladesh notwithstanding, India has decided to go ahead with fencing on its territory along the border between the two countries.
New Delhi had temporarily halted the “single-line” fencing at two border points Malda in West Bengal and Unakoti in Tripura following objections by Dhaka, said sources. The fencing in 92 other border sections, however, was continuing, they said.
India shares 4,096-km-long border with Bangladesh and 800 km of it is unfenced.
Terming the fencing “unauthorised”, Bangladesh had on Sunday summoned Indian Ambassador Pranay Verma. India too on Monday called Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner Mohammad Nural Islam, conveying the message that “security measures at the border, including fencing, were being undertaken as per agreements reached between the two sides”. Single-line fencing is usually done within 150 yards of the border. “The border is defined. Our fencing is legitimate. The single-line fencing is being done at 92 points. It will be impractical to stop the projects now,” said highly placed sources in the security establishment.
The sources said the fencing pact was finalised during the Director General-level talks of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in March 2024 in Dhaka. The agreement was subsequently vetted by both governments.
The current interim government in Dhaka, led by Nobel laureate Mohd Yunus, however, has been objecting to the projects, though it has not attributed any clear reason.
While the fencing was being done to check criminal activities, the objections seemed to have a political motive, the sources said. “It’s understood the hostilities towards India are percolating from the top leadership in Dhaka,” they said.
The tensions have escalated between the two sides after the BGB stopped the fencing in Malda and Unakoti on January 6. After meeting Indian Ambassador Verma on Sunday, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mohammad Jashim Uddin, in a statement, asked India to “refrain from any provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the border”. On Monday, the MEA reiterated its commitment to ensuring a crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking. “Barbed fence, border lighting, installation of technical devices and cattle fences are measures for securing the border,” it said.
The relations between India and Bangladesh suffered a blow in August last year after Mohd Yunus became the head of the interim government in Dhaka. The development came days after then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following weeks of violent protests. The differences also surfaced when Bangladesh sought the extradition of Hasina, who has been provided asylum in India. The BSF-BGB DG-level talks are scheduled next month in New Delhi and the border fencing, among other issues, is expected to be taken up.