Good fences for good neighbours

Bangladesh's concern over the fencing of the international border is misplaced

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The escalation of tensions along the India-Bangladesh border in recent days is yet another reflection of the low point to which bilateral ties have fallen under the current caretaker administration in Dhaka. Bangladesh's expression of concern over India's efforts to fence the international boundary to stem smuggling and other transnational crimes is misplaced, especially since there have been several attempts by smugglers and traffickers from the Bangladeshi side to transgress the border over the past week amidst attacks on Indian border guards. At a meeting with Bangladesh's foreign secretary Mohammad Jashim Uddin to discuss the border tensions, Indian envoy Pranay Verma pointed out that New Delhi is committed to ensuring a crime-free boundary and