Dhaka, Aug 09 – India would erect barbed wire fence along the border of West Bengal and Bangladesh to prevent cross-border infiltration by the Bangladeshi nationals illegally. “India has noticed the infiltration of Bangladesh nationals through the border of West Bengal. This matter has created a kind of concern. So they have decided to erect barbed wire fence along its borders to prevent such infiltration,” home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said yesterday.
Home minister said this to journalists soon after his arrival in Dhaka after his three-day official visit to Delhi to hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Amit Shah on various issues like counterterrorism, trans-border security, increased cooperation between security agencies, cross-border security, etc.
He also said that both sides talked on the border killing of Bangladeshi nationals on different occasions.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, “We have talked on the border killing. It’s a sensitive issue. Indian sides told us that Border Security Force would remain alert in this regard in future.”
“The incident of border killing takes place when illegal dispatch takes place,” he added.
Killing of Bangladeshi nationals by Indian BSF has always been a concern. On many occasions, both the countries held meetings to find out solution of it.
Even home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal placed a statistics before the parliament on 11 July that BSF killed a total of 294 Bangladeshi nationals in last 10 years since 2009.
According to statistics placed by the minister, at least 66 Bangladeshi nationals were killed on the Bangladesh-India border in 2009 another 55 in 2010, 24 each in 2011 and 2012, 18 in 2013, 24 in 2014, 38 in 2015, 25 in 2016, 17 in 2017 and three in 2018.
Asked about the long-standing dispute with India over Muhurir Char in Feni, he said, “A survey would be conducted in this regard. We hope during the prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in October, this matter would be discussed and a solution is expected.”
As per Border Guard Bangladesh, Muhurir Char is a land 92.14 acres. Bangladesh has got 71.94 acres and the rest 20.20 acres have gone to India after the area was demarcated with wooden pillars in accordance with the 2011 protocol.
India then demanded a fresh survey of the bordering area along the border river while Bangladesh wants the issue settled according to the 1977-78 survey.
Home minister said both sides have a successful meeting over various issues and further cooperation would continue in future to bolster the relations between the two neighbours.
Asked about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, which has raised concern for many in Bangladesh, he said, they did not have any talk in this regard. – Staff Reporter
