Lalmonirhat BGB obstructs BSF from installing electric poles within zero line of border

violation of international border law, members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) installed iron electric poles and an unknown device within the zero line of the border in the dark of night. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) protested at the flag meeting.

On Wednesday (January 8) night, Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Muhammad Musahid Masum, commander of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Rangpur 61 Battalion (Tista-2), confirmed this information to journalists. Earlier, on Tuesday (January 7) midnight, BSF installed iron electric poles and an unknown device within the zero line of the Patgram Sadar Union border in Lalmonirhat.

BGB and locals said that BSF members of the 98th Battalion of BSF in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, India, installed electric poles and equipment at night 50 yards inside the zero line of the main pillar number 829 of the 2nd sub-pillar of the India-Bangladesh border, Patgram Sadar Union, at the Phulkadabri camp of the BSF in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, India.

The next day, farmers who went to the spot to cultivate saw the matter and informed the BGB. The BGB strongly protested to the BSF and asked them to remove the electric poles and equipment immediately and sent a letter calling for a flag meeting. Later, a flag meeting was held at the company commander level between the BSF and BGB at that border point on Wednesday evening (at 5:30 pm). In the meeting that lasted about 20 minutes, 6 BSF officers of different levels were led by Inspector Jitendra Singh on behalf of India. Subedar Mahbubur Rahman led 6 people on behalf of Bangladesh.  The BGB protested the installation of poles and equipment in the zero line in the dark of night without informing anyone in the meeting.

The BGB urged the BSF to comply with international border laws in constructing or installing anything in the zero line. When asked to remove the poles and equipment, the BSF removed the installed equipment and poles.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Rangpur 61 Battalion (Tista-2) Commander Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Muhammad Musahid Masum said, “The BSF has informed us that various types of damage are occurring in their tea gardens, for which they have installed machines and poles. We have clearly stated that there is no scope for any establishment within the zero line as per international laws and agreements. It cannot be done without informing. A flag meeting was held at the company commander level regarding this. They have removed the constructed establishment. A vigilant eye has been kept to ensure that it does not happen again secretly.