Why Bangladesh Is Trying To Halt India’s Border Fencing Project: Exclusive From Intel Sources – News18
Last Updated:
Top intelligence sources said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), too, is key in halting these projects
BSF personnel patrol past a fence on the India-Bangladesh border at Thakuranbari village, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. (AP File)
Is the Bangladesh government going back on its prior commitment of fencing under pressure from the Jamaat-e-Islami party?
According to top intelligence sources, Jamaat cadre was seen protesting with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Sunday. India has already fenced 3,271 kilometres of the 4,156-kilometer-long border with Bangladesh. “The protests will impact the unfenced 885 kilometres. Protests and conflicts have surfaced in five areas, including Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Lalmonirhat, and the Tin Bigha Corridor. Individuals carrying weapons were seen on the border. Cattle smuggling and drugs trade will suffer due to border fencing. For the Jamaat, an open border would be a source of income. Their establishments and settlements are seen close to the border areas,” said sources.
WHAT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY?
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma over border tensions. The development came hours after Dhaka alleged that India was trying to construct fences at five locations along the Indo-Bangla border, violating a bilateral agreement.
Talking to the media after emerging from the meeting, Verma said Dhaka and New Delhi “have understandings with regard to fencing the border for security”. “Our two border guard enforcements – BSF and BGB (Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh) – have been in communication in this regard. We expect that this understanding will be implemented and there will be a cooperative approach to combating crimes along the border,” Verma added.
Earlier in the day, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that India halted construction of barbed wire fencing along the border due to the strong opposition from the Border Guard Bangladesh and locals.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday summoned Bangladesh’s deputy High Commissioner Nural Islam over border-related issues.
WHY THE BID TO HALT THE PROJECT
Sources said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), too, is key in halting these projects. “Pakistanis have easy access to Bangladesh and they can use open borders to enter India to criminalise eastern states and West Bengal. The BGB and Jamat don’t want even solar lights in this area, so that they have no problem smuggling cattle,” they said.
They added that the most important motive is to push Bangladeshis illegally into India without any pressure. “They can later work as a sleeper cells for Jamaat and other Islamic terror groups. There is a strong possibility that Bangladesh radicals will try to push ISIS cadre to carry out attacks in India.
Another reason is the possibility of release of terrorists from jail,” sources said.
CNN-News18 had earlier reported how the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government had released a large number of terrorists jailed by former PM Sheikh Hasina and given legitimacy to Ansarullah Bangla Team and Jamat-E-Islami. An intelligence note exclusively accessed by CNN-News18 has revealed that splinter groups of the terror group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) are active in India after the release of top al-Qaeda (AQ) leadership in Bangladesh. These groups have penetrated slaughterhouses and cotton textile houses in these places, said the note. They allegedly live in densely populated areas where local Bengalis stay and travel regularly to meet friends and activate their groups.
Discover more from Divya Bharat 🇮🇳
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
