NEW DELHI: The delayed director general (DG)-level talks between Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), to be held now in the third week of Feb, is likely to focus on resolving the impasse over proposed construction of single-row fence by India to close gaps along Indo-Bangladesh border.
BSF recently had to suspend erection of the single-row fence within 150 sq yards of the border at two points – in Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal – after BGB raised objections. Sources in BSF however told TOI that construction of the fence was started based on earlier approvals from BGB, duly ratified by Bangladesh govt, in line with the procedure agreed to by the two sides at the institutional level.
Such construction of fence is taken up by BSF only after it submits a proposal relating to the work to BGB, followed by joint inspection and finally, ratification by the Bangladesh govt and recording of this concurrence in the joint record of discussions (JRDs). “JRDs had okayed single-row fencing of the two stretches within 150 sq yards of the border, one in Malda and the other at Dakshin Dinajpur. But when we embarked on the actual construction, BGB raised objections, alleging that the necessary approvals had not been taken,” shared a senior BSF officer.
Sources told TOI the central point made during flag meetings that followed at various levels, is that the JRDs must be redone as the earlier ones were ratified prior to the regime change. A senior officer said this demand marks a departure from the continuity principle followed in bilateral arrangements between two sovereign nations, irrespective of any change in their political dispensations.
During the DG-level talks, BSF is hoping to find an amicable resolution to this imbroglio. Until then, status quo is likely to be maintained at the two stretches, which form part of the total 90-95km length that was found feasible for erection of single-row fence.
Meanwhile, there are parallel tensions with BGB at around a dozen other border points, not related to construction of single row fence. Bangladesh has also objected to the recent killing of its national – who BSF sources said was a smuggler and was killed after he tried to attack its personnel on duty. These will also be discussed at the conference next month.
Of the 4,096km Indo-Bangladesh border, some 3,300km has been fenced while around 865km cannot be fenced due to reasons like adverse terrain, riverine stretches, habitations etc. However, 90-95km has been found feasible for single-row fencing. The DG-level talks were to be held last Nov but were postponed on request of the Bangladesh govt.
