Talks underway on short-stay pass for border people

Jammat Ali Gazi, 75, is living a solitary life in Harudha village under Bhomra area of Satkhira district. 
His two sons left for India 40 years ago and his wife followed suit 20 years ago. 
“I didn’t want to go to India with my sons and wife as I have some cultivable lands here in Bangladesh,” he told this correspondent. 
His house is located on the Indo-Bangla border pillar number 1. 
This correspondent was part of a team of Bangladeshi journalists who visited different border points on the Indian side. The Indian foreign ministry and the Border Security Force (BSF) organised the tour.  
“It has become difficult for me now to live alone here. I cook my food, wash my clothes and do all household chores myself. I am completely alone as my wife and sons are in India. Whenever I fall sick, there’s nobody to take care of me,” Jammat said.  “I don’t want to live in Bangladesh without my wife and children. I would like to be with them. But the Indian BSF won’t allow me to visit them. Please do something for me,” he made an impassioned plea. “I’ve no passport. Please help me to go there (India) and join my family. Kindly send me to India by any means. You can do everything,” an emotional Jammat said.

His neighbour Dawud Ali, an Indian citizen, lives in Panitora village. He said only demarcation pillars along the border separated Bangladesh and India near his place. “We can visit each other anytime we want. Sometime, we offer prayer at a mosque in Bangladesh territory and cross the pillars on social occasions and take food with us,” he added.
“The border pillars may separate the two countries, but no one can divide us,” he said.
Talking to this correspondent, Shyamoli Gain, a panchayat member of Kaijuri village in India, said: “Pillars are in their places, but the people are living in their own way. If they had border passes, they could visit each other.”
Ashok Halder, commander of the Panitora BSF border outpost said, “If anyone enters or goes out, it’s done through a process.”
“No one (Indian citizen) can enter and go out without showing an ID, as all the Indian citizens living close to the border have been given ID cards,” he added.
There were 40 families on the Indian side of the border, who had to inform the BSF during any social gathering, he said.
Locals said the governments of the two countries should introduce short-stay visa or passes so that people living on two sides of the border could visit their relatives.
Most of the people living near the border are farmers or fishermen. Some of their houses are on the Bangladesh side. They get solar-powered electricity, while people on the Indian side use dry cow-dung for cooking  .
Vikram Sharma, commander of the 144 battalion of the BSF, said they had proposed to the government to introduce ‘short-stay visa’ for these people for making short trips across the border. “This can be managed if both Bangladesh and India agree to the proposition,” he added.
“It’ll be beneficial for both the countries and also help the two border forces—BSF and BGB—maintain friendly relations,” the BSF commander said.
Maj. Gen. Abul Hossain, director general (DG) of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said talks were underway to introduce short-stay passes. “It’s up to the government to decide whether they’ll introduce it or not,” he added.
This border area is crime-free and no border killing or smuggling takes place here, said BSF officials.

Talks underway on short-stay pass for border people

Jammat Ali Gazi, 75, is living a solitary life in Harudha village under Bhomra area of Satkhira district. His two sons left for India 40 years ago and his wife followed suit 20 years ago. I didnt want to go to India with my sons and wife as I have some cultivable lands here in Bangladesh, he told this correspondent. His house is located on the Indo-Bangla border pillar number 1. This correspondent was part of a team of Bangladeshi journalists who visited different border points on the Indian side. The Indian foreign ministry and the Border Security Force (BSF) organisedthe tour. It has become difficult for me now to live alone here. I cook my food, wash my clothes and do all household chores myself. I am completely alone as my wife and sons are in India. Whenever I fall sick, theres nobody to take care of me, Jammatsaid. I dont want to live in Bangladesh without my wife and children. I would like to be with them. But the Indian BSF wont allow me to visit them. Please do something for me, he made an impassioned plea. Ive no passport. Please help me to go there (India) and join my family. Kindly send me to India by any means. You can do everything, an emotional Jammat said. His neighbour Dawud Ali, an Indian citizen, lives in Panitora village. He said only demarcation pillars along the border separated Bangladesh and India near his place. We can visit each other anytime we want. Sometime, we offer prayer at a mosque in Bangladesh territory and cross the pillars on social occasions and take food with us, he added. The border pillars may separate the two countries, but no one can divide us, he said. Talking to this correspondent, Shyamoli Gain, a panchayat member of Kaijuri village in India, said: Pillars are in their places, but the people are living in their own way. If they had border passes, they could visit each other. Ashok Halder, commander of the Panitora BSF border outpost said, If anyone enters or goes out, its done through a process. No one (Indian citizen) can enter and go out without showing an ID, as all the Indian citizens living close to the border have been given ID cards, he added. There were 40 families on the Indian side of the border, who had to inform the BSF during any social gathering, he said. Locals said the governments of the two countries should introduce short-stay visa or passes so that people living on two sides of the border could visit their relatives. Most of the people living near the border are farmers or fishermen. Some of their houses are on the Bangladesh side. They get solar-powered electricity, while people on the Indian side use dry cow-dung for cooking . Vikram Sharma, commander of the 144 battalion of the BSF, said they had proposed to the government to introduce short-stay visa for these people for making short trips across the border. This can be managed if both Bangladesh and India agree to the proposition, he added. Itll be beneficial for both the countries and also help the two border forcesBSF and BGBmaintain friendly relations, the BSF commander said. Maj. Gen. Abul Hossain, director general (DG) of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said talks were underway to introduce short-stay passes. Its up to the government to decide whether theyll introduce it or not, he added. This border area is crime-free and no border killing or smuggling takes place here, said BSF officials.