BGB, BSF plan border cleaning to curb trespassing

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) of India are going to clean jungles, orchards and tea gardens on either side of the ‘no-man’s land’ on the Bangladesh-India border to curb cross-border terrorism. At the same time, the border forces of the two countries will stop cultivation of crops like jute, sugarcane, maize and banana in the bordering areas for the same purpose, a source in the home ministry and the BGB said.

This is being done as per the decision of the recent director-general (DG)-level talks between the BGB and BSF in New Delhi, the source added. “Since partition, at many places on the 'no-man’s land', there are localities, infrastructure, jungles, orchards and tea gardens, and people of the two countries have been maintaining these,” a senior official of the home ministry said.

“There are some tea gardens near the border in Sylhet and Panchaghar. In some areas in Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Netrokona, there are jungles, forests and orchards in the northern districts,” he said. “As per the decision of the DG-level meeting, the authorities concerned, especially the BGB and the BSF, will select and list the areas and then decide when and how to clean the areas to ensure border security,” he added.

“As per international border laws, no one can allow forest, jungle, tea garden or orchard, and also not cultivate crops like jute, sugarcane, maize and banana inside 150 yards of the ‘no-man’s land’,” the official added. Quoting the decision of the DG-level talks, the source said cross-border terrorism was not being curbed because there are such forests, jungles, tea gardens and orchards, and even cultivation of jute, sugarcane, maize and banana by farmers of either countries.

“And that’s why, the border forces of the two countries will create awareness among local farmers of the respective countries about not cultivating such crops inside the ‘no-man’s lands’,” according to the source. Bangladesh and India share a 4,156km-long border, the fifth-longest land border in the world, including 262km with Assam, 856km with Tripura, 180km with Mizoram, 443km with Meghalaya, and 2,217km with West Bengal.

 

 

 

BGB, BSF plan border cleaning to curb trespassing

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) of India are going to clean jungles, orchards and tea gardens on either side of the no-mans land on the Bangladesh-India border to curb cross-border terrorism. At the same time, the border forces of the two countries will stop cultivation of crops like jute, sugarcane, maize and banana in the bordering areas for the same purpose, a source in the home ministry and the BGB said. This is being done as per the decision of the recent director-general (DG)-level talks between the BGB and BSF in New Delhi, the source added. Since partition, at many places on the no-mans land, there are localities, infrastructure, jungles, orchards and tea gardens, and people of the two countries have been maintaining these, a senior official of the home ministry said. There are some tea gardens near the border in Sylhet and Panchaghar. In some areas in Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Netrokona, there are jungles, forests and orchards in the northern districts, he said. As per the decision of the DG-level meeting, the authorities concerned, especially the BGB and the BSF, will select and list the areas and then decide when and how to clean the areas to ensure border security, he added. As per international border laws, no one can allow forest, jungle, tea garden or orchard, and also not cultivate crops like jute, sugarcane, maize and banana inside 150 yards of the no-mans land, the official added. Quoting the decision of the DG-level talks, the source said cross-border terrorism was not being curbed because there are such forests, jungles, tea gardens and orchards, and even cultivation of jute, sugarcane, maize and banana by farmers of either countries. And thats why, the border forces of the two countries will create awareness among local farmers of the respective countries about not cultivating such crops inside the no-mans lands, according to the source. Bangladesh and India share a 4,156km-long border, the fifth-longest land border in the world, including 262km with Assam, 856km with Tripura, 180km with Mizoram, 443km with Meghalaya, and 2,217km with West Bengal.