Dhaka: Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Md. Jashim Uddin, expressed the country’s “deep concern” regarding recent border tensions during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
While the state-run BSS news agency initially reported that Verma had been “summoned” by the foreign ministry to address escalating border tensions, the official statement from the ministry did not use the term “summoned.”
In the press release, the ministry stated, “Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin today conveyed the Government of Bangladesh’s deep concerns to High Commissioner Pranay Verma over the recent activities of the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Bangladesh-India border.”
The meeting, which took place at around 3 pm local time, lasted for about 45 minutes.
Afterward, Verma addressed the media, emphasising India’s commitment to maintaining a crime-free border and addressing issues such as smuggling, criminal movement, and trafficking.
He reiterated India’s understanding with Bangladesh regarding border fencing and the communication between the BSF and Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB) on this matter.
“We expect that the understandings will be implemented, and there will be a cooperative approach to combating crime,” Verma said.
The meeting comes in the wake of allegations by Dhaka that India was attempting to construct fences at five locations along the Indo-Bangla border, which Bangladesh claims violates a bilateral agreement.
The foreign secretary expressed concerns over the unauthorized construction of barbed wire fences and actions by the BSF, which, according to the statement, have caused tensions along the border.
“Such activities undermine the spirit of cooperation and friendly relations between our countries,” the statement read. The foreign secretary also hoped that the upcoming BGB-BSF DG-level talks would provide an opportunity to address these concerns.
The foreign secretary further raised the issue of the recent killing of a Bangladeshi citizen in Sunamganj by the BSF, describing it as a troubling and recurring incident.
He strongly condemned such acts of violence, calling for immediate action from Indian authorities to prevent future border killings and ensure accountability.
Despite repeated assurances from India to adopt a non-lethal strategy, the foreign secretary noted that such killings continued. He urged the Indian government to instruct its authorities to refrain from any provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the border.
“We believe that these issues should be resolved through constructive dialogue, following existing bilateral agreements, and in a manner that maintains peace and tranquility at the border,” the statement concluded.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser, Lt Gen (retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, revealed that India had halted the construction of barbed wire fencing along the border after opposition from the BGB and local communities.
He explained that past agreements between Bangladesh and India, including the 1975 MoU, prohibited development activities near the zero line without mutual consent.
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Chowdhury also highlighted that while India has already fenced over 3,271 kilometers of the 4,156-kilometer border, disputes over barbed wire fencing persist, particularly in areas like Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, and Lalmonirhat.
He accused the previous Bangladesh government of granting India unequal terms, which contributed to the ongoing border fencing disputes.
Under the 1974 agreement, Bangladesh handed over Berubari to India, with the expectation that India would provide Bangladesh access to the Tin Bigha Corridor, a commitment that, according to Chowdhury, India has failed to fully honor.
The Foreign Ministry continues to engage diplomatically to resolve these border issues and maintain peaceful bilateral relations.