Over a week after New Delhi summoned the Dhaka envoy to raise issues over border fencing, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has claimed that its troops deterred India's Border Security Forces (BSF) from putting up a barbed-wire fence along the country's border with India at Joypurhat.
This comes after the BSF stated that it would continue fencing along the international border at Kaliachak in Malda district despite Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) objection to the initiative. The BSF claims the fencing was being carried out inside the Indian border.
Lieutenant Colonel Nahid Newaz, commander of Joypurhat-20 BGB battalion, claimed the BGB intervened when the BSF troops attempted to build a barbed wire fence, forcing them to abandon the fence construction and leave. "The situation there is now quiet and calm, and normal," Newaz said, though he did not mention where the construction was happening, whether it was on the Indian or Bangladeshi side.
However, a Bangladesh news website quoted "locals" without naming them that the BSF members from the Indian Chakgopal camp were trying to construct a fence within 30 yards of the zero point, which "was a violation of international law."
The BGB Commander said a letter was sent to BSF for holding a company commander-level flag meeting between the two sides.
Both countries had been locked in a disagreement over India's attempt to construct a barbed-wire fence in ton border, on the Indian side. West Bengal shares a 2,216 km border with Bangladesh and hundreds of kilometres remain unfenced making the border porous.
🚨 BIG NEWS ALERT
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) January 18, 2025
Bangladeshi Peacefuls attacked Indian farmers & villagers in Sukhdevpur, Malda. Bengali Hindus RETALIATED 🔥
Indian villagers are now near the India-Bangladesh International Border in large numbers. TENSION PREVAILS. pic.twitter.com/NFnD3ZCQ0H
Two days ago, there were disputes on the border in Malda's Sukdevpur after clashes broke out between Indian and Bangladeshi farmers. Indian farmers said Bangladeshi farmers stole crops and equipment, leading to an altercation. The verbal dispute quickly escalated into a violent confrontation, with both sides hurling stones at each other. BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces were quickly deployed to restore order and disperse the crowds.
Three Bangladeshis were reportedly been injured as tensions flared up.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who visited Malda on Tuesday warned the villagers to stay away from the international border in case of any dispute between the BSF and BGB.
