India-Bangladesh border may soon see Wagah-like scenes as India and Bangladesh have agreed to have similar march drills at six posts on the frontier.
The first such drill, expected to be implemented this year, will start at Benapole in West Bengal on the Indo-Bangla border.
The decision, part of a range of agreements and understanding reached at by border forces of India and Bangladesh, was taken at the two-day meet between Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF) that ended here on Thursday.
Sources, however, said the drill at India-Bangla border will be markedly different from the one held at Wagah-Attari on the India-Pak border. “It will not be a hostile meet like the one at Wagah. Bangladesh is a friend and the drill would be held in that sentiment to largely strengthen our relations,” said a BSF officer.
The annual drill at Wagah, where BSF and Pakistan Rangers conduct the exercise in an aggressive show of strength amid chants of ultra-nationalistic platitudes from people on both sides of the border, too, was started with similar intentions. However, over time it has degenerated into a reflection of the tumultuous ties between the two nations, where muscle flexing often prevails over confidence building.
The major achievement of the meet, however, has been on the issue of border fencing which India and Bangladesh have been discussing for the past few years to stop smuggling and illegal migration.
Sources said the two countries have almost sorted out all contentious issues over fencing and it is only a matter of time when 100% fencing of the border, except the riverine area, will be achieved.
“Joint survey of all disputed patches, except some 10 patches on the Tripura border, has been completed and BGB have already sent their opinion to Bangladesh home ministry. Once it comes from there, the work will begin,” said the officer.
According to BSF sources, there are close to 220 patches on the border where disputes had arisen between the countries as fencing needed to be done within 150 yards of the zero line.
India shares 4,165km-long border with Bangladesh, of which fencing for over 3,000km has been sanctioned. While close to 75% of this work has been completed, disputes between the countries had arisen over 220 sites on the border.
These were areas which either have villages or terrestrial obstructions like water bodies right on the zero line. These are also among the areas often used for illegal migration or cattle smuggling.
A BSF officer said approval from Dhaka has already come for 36 posts while joint survey of about 175 posts has been completed.
The meet has also touched upon key issues like smuggling, increasing attacks on BSF personnel by smugglers since it has started using non-lethal weapons, smuggling of fake currency and Indian insurgent groups hiding in Bangladesh.
Source: Time of India
