Dhaka (TIP): The Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Feb 20 termed the reports of attacks on minorities in his country as ‘exaggerated,’ while asserting that authorities have taken steps for their protection.
Addressing a joint press conference here after the conclusion of the 55th edition of the border guarding forces’ DG-level talks, BGB chief Maj General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said, “The news of attacks on minorities in the recent past in Bangladesh is an exaggeration. We provided security to puja pandals within eight kilometres of the international border during Durga Puja, which was held peacefully.”
BGB chief’s remarks in a way refuted the claims made by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha in November last year in which he had said “several incidents of desecration and damage to Hindu Temples and deities in Bangladesh have been reported in the past few months”.
The MoS had gone on record saying that the government of India has “expressed its concerns” about such incidents, including the attack on Puja Mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka, and the theft at Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple at Shatkhira during Durga Puja 2024. He later also informed that the Bangladeshi authorities were requested to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship.
On the contentious issue of border fencing between the two countries, Siddiqui said that no side is allowed to construct permanent structures within 150 yards on either side of the IB. However, he noted that a communication gap takes place when fencing takes place within 150 yards.
Siddiqui further said, “Bangladesh has raised objections that proper consulting and mutual discussion need to be held. We hope to resolve that in the future so that construction can take place in the no-man’s land.”
The BGB chief maintained that there was no discussion on changing the 1975 clause on border alignment, as this was beyond the scope of this meeting. But the issue of distance from the zero line, where the fence should be, has always been part of the discussion.
“We have requested joint inspection at these locations,” he added.
Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary, on his part, said the Bangladeshi delegation had raised objections regarding fencing at some places along the borders and also hoped that the issue would be resolved in the future.
On the issue of infiltration, particularly after former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India, Chawdhary said, “After August 5, 2024, the forces from both the sides have operationally deployed to stop and curb any kind of infiltration across the border.” All over, the infiltration has substantially gone down and this is done with the active help of the BGB, he added.
This was the first top-level engagement between the two border guarding forces since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August last year. The last edition of these bi-annual talks was held in Dhaka in March last year.
The BSF guards the 4,096-kilometre-long India-Bangladesh boundary that runs across five states – West Bengal (2,217 kilometres), Tripura (856 kilometres), Meghalaya (443 kilometres), Assam (262 kilometres) and Mizoram (318 kilometres). (Express)