Atrocities of BSF/How BGB responds

[Saif]

BGB protests as BSF installs electric poles on zero line

The Border Guard Bangladesh has protested at the Indian Border Security Force installing iron electric poles and an electric device on the zero line along the border at Patgram in Lalmonirhat...

www.newagebd.net

BGB protests as BSF installs electric poles on zero line
Our Correspondent . Lalmonirhat 10 January, 2025, 00:26

The Border Guard Bangladesh has protested at the Indian Border Security Force installing iron electric poles and an electric device on the zero line along the border at Patgram in Lalmonirhat.

The BGB issued the protest on Wednesday.

Later, on the day, the BGB and the BSF held a flag meeting over the issue, said BGB 61 Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Muhammad Musahid Masum.

On Tuesday midnight, the BSF installed the iron electric poles and electric device on the zero line, he said.

BSF 98 Battalion members in Cooch Behar of West Bengal in India installed the electric poles and electrical equipment on the India-Bangladesh border at the sub-pillar number 2 of the main pillar number 829, which is 50 yards within the zero line of the Gatiarvita border at Patgram union.

The international law does not allow installing any such infrastructure within 150 yards of the no-man’s land.

On Wednesday morning, farmers had noticed the matter and informed the BGB about it and the BGB had sent a letter to the BSF for the flag meeting.

A company commander-level flag meeting was held at the border point in the evening on the day.

The BGB urged the BSF to abide by international border laws regarding the zero line.

The BSF later removed the installed equipment and poles.

BGB 61 Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Muhammad Musahid Masum said that the BSF informed them that they had installed the poles and device to contain various types of damage in tea gardens.

‘We have clearly stated that there is no scope for constructing any establishment within the zero line as per international laws and agreements,’ he said, adding that the BSF had removed the constructed structures following the flag meeting.

In Chapainawabganj, tension had gripped local villagers as the BSF on Wednesday again began constructing fence along the border at Shibganj upazila amid deployment of additional forces on both sides of the border.

The Indian border force later stopped the construction as the BGB intervened.

Earlier on Sunday morning, BSF members from the Sabdalpur BSF camp in the Gopalganj police jurisdiction in India’s Malda district began constructing a barbed wire fence along the border adjacent to border pillars 177/1S, 2S, and 3S.

BGB members on Wednesday also halted the BSF’s attempts to erect barbed wire fences on the no-man’s land at Dhamoirhat in Naogaon.​

 

[Saif]

Tension erupts again over India's bid to build fence along Bangladesh border

Tension erupted again between the Border Guard Bangladesh and Indian Border Security Force on Friday morning over building a barbed wire fence by the Indian force along Dahagram border in Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat.

www.newagebd.net

Tension erupts again over India's bid to build fence along Bangladesh border
Our Correspondent . Lalmonirhat 11 January, 2025, 00:20

File photo

Tension erupted again between the Border Guard Bangladesh and Indian Border Security Force on Friday morning over building a barbed wire fence by the Indian force along Dahagram border in Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat.

Tension flared up as the BGB protested at the BSF’s attempt to build a fence in the 150-yard no-man’s-land, which is a breach of international laws.

The construction of barbed wire fence was going on till filing the report at 10:00pm on Friday, as the Indian border force ignored the BGB’s protestations.

A large contingent of BSF personnel were deployed in the Indian side along the border, while 1.5 platoons of BGB members were stationed in the Bangladesh side. Local people also accompanied the BGB, according to its officials and local people.

International laws do not allow installing any infrastructure within 150 yards of the no-man’s-land.

BGB officials said that local residents informed them on Friday morning that the BSF was constructing a barbed-wire fence engaging 30–35.

BGB 51 Battalion assistant director Amir Khasru said that they protested at the BSF act instantly.

‘Responding to our protest, they initially halted the work but a little later they started building the fence again,’ said Khasru, adding that 1.5 platoons of BGB members were deployed at border over the issue.

Tension along the border began escalating since the final week of December past year over BSF’s attempts to build fence and other structures.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Bangladesh border force protested at the Indian border force’s attempt to installing iron electric poles along with an electric device on the zero line at the Patgram border in Lalmonirhat. On that day, the two sides held a flag meeting over the issue.

On Wednesday again in Chapainawabganj, local villagers became anxious as the BSF began constructing a fence along the border at Shibganj upazila leading to deployment of additional forces on both sides of the border.

The Indian border force later stopped the construction as the BGB intervened.

Earlier on December 29, BSF members from it Sabdalpur camp in the Gopalganj police jurisdiction in India’s Malda district began constructing a barbed wire fence at a spot adjacent to border pillars 177/1S, 2S, and 3S.

BGB members on Wednesday also halted the BSF’s attempts to erect barbed wire fences on the no-man’s land at Dhamoirhat in Naogaon.​

 

[Saif]

Flag meeting held between BGB and BSF over Fencing at Naogaon border

A flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) was held over a tense situation that arose regarding the construction of a barbed wire fence by the BSF along the Bastabar border in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon. The meeting took place on Friday at 4:

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Flag meeting held between BGB and BSF over Fencing at Naogaon border
Published :
Jan 10, 2025 23:16
Updated :
Jan 10, 2025 23:16

A flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) was held over a tense situation that arose regarding the construction of a barbed wire fence by the BSF along the Bastabar border in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon.

The meeting took place on Friday at 4:30 pm on the zero line adjacent to the Bastabar Border Outpost (BOP) in Dhamoirhat upazila.

The meeting was held between the commander of the Shibpur Company of BSF's 123rd Battalion and the commander of the Bastabar BOP of BGB's 14th Battalion, UNB reports.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, the commanding officer of BGB's 14th Battalion, said that the company-level commanders of both BGB and BSF engaged in a cordial discussion. The BSF agreed to halt the construction of the barbed wire fence. A decision on whether fences or roads will be built along the border will be taken through discussions between higher officials of BGB and BSF.

He added that the BSF assured that they would not construct any fences or structures within 150 yards of the zero line. If they attempt to violate this commitment, BGB will resist such actions.

According to BGB and local sources, as per the law, no border country is allowed to construct fences or structures within 150 yards of the zero line, except for agricultural purposes. However, BSF personnel attempted to build structures along the border, violating international law. Following the activities, BGB personnel intervened and stopped the construction. Subsequently, the BSF members left without completing their work.​

 

[Saif]

BORDER FENCING BY INDIA: Tension on as BSF avoids flag meeting

A tense situation continued in Dahagram border at Patgram in Lalmonirhat as the Indian Border Security Force made no response to Border Guard Bangladesh’s call for holding a flag meeting over the construction...

www.newagebd.net

BORDER FENCING BY INDIA: Tension on as BSF avoids flag meeting
Our Correspondent . Lalmonirhat 12 January, 2025, 01:33

New Age photo

A tense situation continued in Dahagram border at Patgram in Lalmonirhat as the Indian Border Security Force made no response to Border Guard Bangladesh’s call for holding a flag meeting over the construction barbed wire fence till Saturday evening.

The BSF with the help of 30-35 people constructed a four-foot high barbed wire fence on a stretch of about one kilometre and a half on the zero line Friday morning amid a tense situation as the BGB protested against it.

High officials of both the BSF and the BGB visited the bordering area Saturday morning while authorities from the both sides increased deployment of forces along the border, said local people and BGB officials in the district.

Dahagram Union Parishad member Golam Rabbani said that the BSF had started constructing the barbed wire fence on the zero line of the border illegally.

‘If India does not remove the barbed wire fence from the zero line, we will launch a movement,’ he said.

BGB 51 Battalion assistant director Amir Khasru said that the BSF did not respond to the BGB calls for a flag meeting over the issue.

‘The situation is normal. We have deployed additional BGB members on borders. We have urged general people to remain alert,’ Amir said.

He said that they were trying to resolve the issue at the earliest in consultation with the higher authorities concerned.

Tensions along the Indian border have been increasing since the final week of December 2024 over the construction of fences.

The Border Guard Bangladesh has protested at the Indian Border Security Force installing iron electric poles and an electric device on the zero line along the border at Patgram in Lalmonirhat.

The BGB issued the protest on Wednesday.

Later on the day, the BGB and the BSF held a flag meeting over the issue.

In Chapainawabganj, tension gripped local villagers as the BSF on Wednesday again began constructing fences along the border at Shibganj amid deployment of additional forces on both sides of the border.

The Indian border force later stopped the construction as the BGB intervened.

Earlier on December 29, BSF members from the Sabdalpur BSF camp in the Gopalganj police jurisdiction in India’s Malda district began constructing a barbed wire fence along the border.

BGB members on Wednesday also halted the BSF attempts to erect barbed wire fences on the no-man’s land at Dhamoirhat in Naogaon.

The international law does not allow installing any such infrastructure within 150 yards of the no-man’s land.​

 

[Saif]

BSF obstructs reconstruction of mosque at Beanibazar border

For four years, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has blocked Bangladesh's reconstruction of a 200-year-old mosque along the Gajukata border in Beanibazar, Sylhet. As a result, the work that began with laying the foundation and installing pillars has stood still for four years. Higher au

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BSF obstructs reconstruction of mosque at Beanibazar border
UNB
Published :
Jan 11, 2025 21:25
Updated :
Jan 11, 2025 21:25

For four years, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has blocked Bangladesh's reconstruction of a 200-year-old mosque along the Gajukata border in Beanibazar, Sylhet. As a result, the work that began with laying the foundation and installing pillars has stood still for four years.

Higher authorities of the government, including the headquarters of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), have been briefed on the matter.

Despite several meetings between the BGB and BSF, the Indian authorities have not agreed to resumption of the reconstruction work.

International laws do not allow for unilaterally installing any infrastructure within 150 yards of the border's zero-line, the so-called "no man's land". Since the site of the mosque falls within this area, Indian consent would be needed to reconstruct it. However, BSF has been opposing the project for the last four years, after initially agreeing.

It is a mirror image of the situation along the border in Chapainawabganj, where BGB has been objecting to the Indians engaging in construction of their much-vaunted border fence within the same 150-yard mark on the Indian side.

Although BGB officials previously issued strong protests against the obstruction, communication on the issue has dwindled over the last two years. BGB-52 Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Mehedi Hasan, PPM, said that the current tensions between the two governments in Delhi and Dhaka have to be resolved above his paygrade, and diplomatic efforts are underway to that end.

Local residents explained that the mosque's structure had deteriorated, with exposed iron rods and a collapsing roof, making it hazardous for prayer. Consequently, the villagers decided to construct a new mosque nearby. Union Parishad member Zainul Islam mentioned that authorities at higher levels were informed, but no action has been taken. He emphasized that the issue requires a state-level decision.

Former Union Parishad member Aftab Uddin recounted the events leading up to the dispute. Villagers had decided to rebuild the mosque and sought BGB's support four years ago. Following discussions with BSF, villagers were verbally assured there would be no objection. They collected funds and completed the foundation and pillars. However, when work on the roof began, BSF intervened and halted the project.

BGB sources confirmed that BSF initially agreed not to oppose the mosque's reconstruction during a flag meeting but later reversed their stance.

Lt. Colonel Mehedi Hasan said that BSF's objection was not to the reconstruction, but rather against any expansion of the mosque. He added that establishing new structures in such areas requires state-level decisions, which complicates the matter further.​