Although tension has been going on between BGB and BSF for 3 days over the construction of a barbed wire fence at the Chauka border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, the situation has calmed down somewhat after a sector commander-level flag meeting last Wednesday evening.
However, despite repeated flag meetings, border people are still unable to relax due to BSF's attempts to build a barbed wire fence despite the BGB's obstacles.
Two flag meetings were held on Monday (January 6) and Tuesday (January 7) regarding this and four flag meetings including two at the battalion commander level on Wednesday afternoon, but the border guards of the two countries could not come to any decision.
The last meeting on Wednesday (January 8) at the sector commander level in Mahdipur, India, brought some relief to the border. Earlier, after assuring each other not to attempt to build a fence in the meetings on Monday and Tuesday, tension arose at the border when they tried to work despite being assured not to do so.
Meanwhile, on Thursday (January 9) afternoon, it was seen that both countries had withdrawn additional troops from the border. The bunkers built on both the Indian and Bangladeshi borders remained. Although some of the construction materials were removed, some parts were left lying. The BGB and BSF continued to maintain vigilance on alert. And the trouble that border residents had with domestic weapons and sticks was no longer there. Overall, the border situation appeared to be relatively calm.
Meanwhile, local Bangladeshi citizens expressed their anger at the protection of Bangladeshi land on the border and along with the BGB, they also took a day-long position on the border to resist the illegal activities of the BSF.
Moin Ahmed of Bishnathpur village on the Chouka border said that the BSF became reckless after getting the opportunity to build a road along the river at this place and is trying to illegally erect a barbed wire fence. We, the border residents, will not let their efforts succeed. They will not be allowed to occupy even an inch of land. They will have to leave the no-man's land as per international law and fence it.
Local resident Dalim told Barta24.com that if they break the no-man's land law and move towards Bangladesh and build a wire fence, the farmers on the side of the fence will be at risk while cultivating. The BSF has already opened fire and shown an aggressive attitude, saying that if the fence is built, the owners of these lands will no longer be able to cultivate their land due to lack of security.
Local farmer Mofiz Uddin said that he has corn planted on his land but is afraid to come to tend to the crops. He expressed his fear of damage to the crops due to lack of maintenance.
Another farmer, Harun Rashid, said that about 1 bigha of his uncle's 3 bighas of paddy field has been destroyed due to the crowd. He blamed the BSF for this by gathering Indians and forcing them to work in violation of the law.
Binodpur Union Ward No. 9 member Md. Badsha said that due to the border tension situation in the last 3 days, 3 bighas of corn, wheat and mustard have been destroyed in the border lands. The crops have been damaged due to the crowding of people on the border due to the BSF's excesses.
Binodpur Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Ruhul Amin of the Chauka border area said that due to the BSF's attempt to gather local Indians and build a barbed wire fence on the other side of the border, Bangladeshis also gathered on the border. Tension arose among the people on the border. Locals raised various anti-India slogans. At this time, slogans of Indian citizens could also be heard from across the border.
Meanwhile, a BGB source said that immediately after the flag meeting on Wednesday afternoon, a high-level courtesy meeting of the Sector Commander was held in Mahdipur opposite the Sona Masjid land port in the afternoon. The meeting lasted until 9 pm and during the discussion, it was decided that no fence or structure could be built on the border without a letter or permission from the BSF or BGB headquarters. In addition, the forces of both countries decided to evacuate the people living in the border areas of their respective territories from the border areas.
The meeting was attended by the Indian side, led by DIG Tarun Kumar Gautam of Malda Sector, Commanding Officer Suraj Singh and other leaders.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh side was led by Colonel Md Imran Ibne Rauf of BGB's Rajshahi Sector.
In this regard, Lt. Col. Golam Kibria, Commander of 59 BGB Battalion, said that the meeting was successfully concluded. According to the decision of the meeting, for now, the BSF will stop the construction work by evacuating additional manpower and civilians. The BGB's proposal has been conveyed to them. They said that they also have higher authorities. They will inform their higher authorities about our objections. After knowing from there, it will be understood where and when India will build the border fence or not. However, the situation in the area is currently normal. BGB is on alert to control any kind of situation. Normal patrols of both countries will continue. However, both countries have evacuated additional troops and border residents. Incidentally, in the international border pillar 177/1S and 2S area, five/six months ago, during the previous Awami League era, India built a dirt road 50 yards ahead of the no-man's land of the border inside Bangladesh (within 100 yards of the international zero line). This tension arose while re-building a barbed wire fence next to that road.