India summoned the High Commissioner of Bangladesh. India summoned the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh: Bangladesh had called the fencing on the border illegal, also summoned the Indian High Commissioner yesterday.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Nurul Islam exiting South Block after the Indian External Affairs Ministry.

India on Monday summoned Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner Nurul Islam over the fencing dispute on the India-Bangladesh border. Earlier on Sunday, Bangladesh had summoned the Indian High Commissioner. The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry had called Indian High Commissioner Prannoy Verma and termed the fencing being done by BSF on the border as an illegal effort.

Bangladesh alleged that India is trying to erect fences at five places on the border in violation of the bilateral agreement on the border. Bangladesh’s government news agency BSS said that the Indian High Commissioner spoke with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Jashimuddin on this issue for about 45 minutes.

However, the interim government of Bangladesh has not issued any statement in this matter. The Indian High Commissioner said after the meeting that both the countries have agreed to erect a fence on the issue of security. Security forces (BSF and BGB) of both the countries have also talked on this issue.

The picture is of the meeting between Indian High Commissioner Prannoy Verma and Bangladesh Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus. (file photo)

Bangladesh Home Minister expressed protest

On Sunday, Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Choudhary had said that Bangladesh will not give any space to anyone on its border. He said that no work related to defense will be allowed within 150 yards of the zero line on the border.

According to Jahangir Alam, according to the agreement ‘Bangladesh-India Joint Border Directive-1975’ signed between Bangladesh and India, there is a ban on doing any kind of work related to defense matters within 150 yards of the zero line of both the countries. For this, consent of both the countries is necessary.

There is a 4,156 km border between India and Bangladesh. Out of this, India has fenced 3271 km, but this work is still pending on 885 km of the border.

BSF soldiers patrolling the India-Bangladesh border. file photo

Controversy regarding fencing at 5 places

Jahangir Alam Chaudhary said that India had done fencing work at 160 places from 2010 to 2023. BSF started this work again from January 10, in which disputes started at 5 places. The dispute took place in Chapainwabganj, Teen Bigha Corridor in Lalmonirhat, Patnitala in Naugaon, Feni, Kushtia and Cumilla.

According to Alam, BSF has stopped the fencing work after Bangladesh’s objection. BSF assured Bangladesh that it will stop the fencing work with barbed wire.

India extended Sheikh Hasina’s visa

Amid the ongoing dispute between the two countries, India has extended the visa period of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 4 days ago. On the other hand, Bangladesh has canceled Sheikh Hasina’s passport. Passports of 97 people including Hasina were canceled in connection with the violence that took place in July last year. Read the full news here…