B'desh Impeding Fencing Work in Multiple Places, Say BSF Officials

Bangladesh on Sunday expressed "deep concern" to India's envoy over border fencing work, prompting the Indian high commissioner to insist that Dhaka implement understandings on border management struck between the two sides.

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The exchange took place during a 30-minute meeting in Dhaka, where Bangladesh's foreign secretary Mohammad Jashim Uddin conveyed his government's objections to Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma over what the former termed "unauthorised" fencing attempts by India's Border Security Force (BSF).

Emerging from the meeting, Verma told reporters: "We have an understanding with regard to fencing the border for security. BSF and BGB have been in communication in this regard. We expect that understandings will be implemented and there will be a cooperative approach to combating crime."

Tensions along the border have been simmering since an interim government took over in Dhaka after the exit of former PM Sheikh Hasina following protests. BSF has moved to deter Bangladeshi smugglers, while Dhaka contended India had violated bilateral agreements by attempting to build fencing at five locations along their shared border. The escalation is marked in recent days by a series of violent confrontations with smugglers and disputes over fence construction Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has opposed BSF construction at "6-7 different places where construction was mutually agreed upon" under the previous government, a senior BSF officer in South Bengal frontier said on condition of anonymity.