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17 June, 2016 00:00 00 AM
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BGB to cast digital eye on vulnerable border points

DEEPAK ACHARJEE

For the first time, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is going to set up a number of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and intruder alert systems along border points with India to keep close watch on illegal activities, including human trafficking and smuggling.
The BGB has taken a pilot project to set up such cameras and alert systems at the Putkhali border point on an experimental basis to test its effectiveness, sources in the home ministry and the BGB said.   If the project proves successful, closed-circuit cameras and intruder alert systems will gradually be put into use along other border points with Myanmar and India, they added. BGB director general Maj. Gen. Aziz Ahmed announced this at a meeting of the National Smuggling Prevention Committee, which was held at the home ministry yesterday. Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal presided over the meeting, where secretaries of the home and law and justice affairs ministries, chiefs of different law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and senior officials of the relevant ministries were present.
At the meeting, Aziz Ahmed said at least 30 vulnerable border points with Myanmar and India have been identified, and digital security devices like closed-circuit cameras and intruder alerts systems would be set up there on a priority basis to stop human trafficking, and smugglings of arms, drugs and other contraband items.
After the meeting, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said they want to stop typical crimes along the border at any cost. “We've already asked the border force to set up modern security devices in all the vulnerable border points with India and Myanmar to stop human trafficking and smuggling,” he added.
“We've also asked the law ministry, BGB, inspector general of police (IGP), narcotics department and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to conduct mobile court drives, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies and local administration, to stop such crimes in border areas,” the minister said.
Talking to The Independent, Aziz Ahmed said they have already given work orders to a security device installation company, and it will begin to set up security devices within three or four months at the Putkhali border point in Benapole area under Jessore district.  
“Putkhali border is well known for human trafficking, and smuggling of arms and drugs. That is why we'll set up such digital devices at this border point,” he said. “We'll also set up closed-circuit cameras and intruder alert systems at the border points in Satkhira, Chittagong Hill Tracts and other vulnerable points,” he added. “BGB zonal heads will monitor the border points to check the movement of smugglers and other elements,” the BGB chief said. Sources said although the BGB and the Border Security Force (BSF) of India have been conducting “coordinated patrolling” and “coordinated night patrolling” at 120 vulnerable border points between Bangladesh and India, illegal activities along the border have not stopped.
The BGB has identified some 54 smuggling routes in 11 bordering districts. These districts are: Khulna, Satkhira, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Comilla, Chittagong, Khagrachari and Rangamati.
Sources said these vulnerable bordering points lie along 33 border districts, including 10 in the coastal region of Bangladesh. More than 50 types of Bangladeshi goods are smuggled into India every day.
Sources alleged that every year, goods worth USD 1 billion are smuggled from the country, and that a section of unscrupulous BGB and BSF personnel is involved in such dealings.
The BGB, as a paramilitary force, is entrusted with the responsibility to protect the 4,427-km-long border with India and Myanmar.

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Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.

Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.

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