BDR-BSF agree to maintain tension-free border

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) have agreed, at a flag meeting, to maintain peace and tension free atmosphere, on a sustained basis, along the international borders, separating the two countries, through discussions, mutual understanding and cooperation, officials said.
The Sector Commander of BDR and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Indian BSF also reiterated the commitment of the two countries to further improve the overall atmosphere of peace along the common border of the two friendly nations.
The BSF side expressed their “deep sorrow” for killing two Bangladeshi nationals at Lalmonirhat recently and assured the BDR that such tragic and painful incidents would not be repeated in future.
The Indian side agreed not to open gunfire or kill innocent Bangladeshis.
The two sides agreed for restraint from any provocative activities, any illegal construction within 150 yards from the zero line and to refer some other issues to their respective higher authorities for decisions.
The flag meeting took place in “a cordial atmosphere” at the Tinbigha Corridor point in Patgram upazila, Lalmonirhat district in Bangladesh on Monday.
The two sides agreed to combat all sorts of cross border crimes, illegal trespassing of criminals and smugglers, smuggling of contrabands including drugs, phensidyl and other narcotics substances, trafficking of women and children and discussed other relevant border issues.
BDR Rangpur Sector Commander Colonel Mohammad Khairuzzaman led an eight-member BDR team comprising all the four Commanding Officers of the concerned BDR battalions while the Indian BSF DIG of Jalpaiguri Sector S K Barua led an eight-member BSF team.
The two sides discussed the issues of barbed-wire fencing of the border by India, its erection of ‘cattle fences’, killings of Bangladeshis by BSF, breaching of the barbed-wire fences, trespassing by criminals, smugglers and nationals of both the countries and other issues.
The BDR allowed the BSF to continue with earth filling work at Kolshir Mukh point, 150 yards from the zero line inside India, after a joint spot visit, during the meeting, by the Commanding Officer of Rangpur 34 Rifle Battalion and his Indian counterpart.
But, the BSF side agreed to refer to their higher authorities the issue of immediate removal of the recently erected illegal ‘cattle fences’ by BSF within 150 yards of the zero line near the Tinbigha Corridor under Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat.
Talking to BSS, after the meeting, Colonel Khairuzzaman described the meeting as “successful”.
“The meeting was fruitful as it resolved some issues,” he said. But, “some other issues were referred to the higher authorities and it will definitely help in resolving the common border issues in future to maintaining peace and tranquility along the common borders,” he said.

BSS, Rangpur/The New Nation