India’s BSF’s ‘Ops Alert’ raises border concerns in Bangladesh
Staff Reporter :
Bi-annual DG level talks
from February 16-20
Relations between Bangladesh and India have reached a low point as tensions rise over a series of contentious issues, including the potential extradition of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, attacks on Bangladesh’s High Commission in India, and the desecration of the Bangladeshi flag.
The strained relationship has further deteriorated due to the ongoing construction of fences along the Bangladesh-India border by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at five locations, as well as a slowdown in the issuance of Indian visas to Bangladeshis.
Even citizens of both countries in Chapainawabganj were recently involved in a confrontation over the cutting of a mango tree.
Amid this situation, the BSF commenced a 10-day border security exercise known as ‘Ops Alert’ along the Bangladesh-India border on 22 January 2025. The exercise, aimed at strengthening India’s border security ahead of its 76th Republic Day celebrations, will continue until 31 January 2025.
The operation, reported by India’s national news agency ANI, takes place amidst growing tensions over the border fencing issue, with both sides accusing each other of provocation. The BSF’s increased presence and activities have further fueled a sense of insecurity on both sides, exacerbating diplomatic tensions.
According to a BSF press release, the ‘Ops Alert’ exercise is being conducted to enhance border security in light of heightened concerns surrounding India’s national security, particularly with the approaching Republic Day celebrations on 26 January.
The exercise has heightened tensions along the Bangladesh-India border and created anxiety among Bangladeshis living in bordering areas.
The BSF has stated that the exercise will cover all field formations along the 4,096 km-long India-Bangladesh border.
The Additional Director General (Eastern Command) and other senior officers have reviewed the security situation in the eastern command area, both during the day and at night.
To oversee operational readiness and strategic deployment in the southern border region, Additional Director General Ravi Gandhi visited the area. He instructed all field formations to enhance security, particularly in riverine areas and locations without fencing.
The BSF also noted that during the ‘Ops Alert’ exercise, its personnel will carry out intensive observational drills along the border. A notification has been issued to all Border Outposts (BOPs) responsible for border security, emphasising the need for frequent drills to ensure robust surveillance. The BSF fears potential provocations along the border in the lead-up to India’s Republic Day celebrations.
Under the prevailing circumstances, the next round of bi-annual Director General-level talks between the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is set to take place in Delhi from 16 to 20 February, marking the first such meeting after the recent regime change in Bangladesh, according to Indian media reports.
These talks, originally scheduled for October 2024, were postponed due to political developments in Bangladesh. The last round of discussions was held in Dhaka. Key topics on the agenda will include border fencing, trans-border crimes, and coordinated patrolling, according to media reports.
Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, the Director General of the BGB, will lead the discussions with BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary.
Meanwhile, a sector commander-level meeting was held in Chapainawabganj to address recent border skirmishes on Wednesday.
The meeting resulted in an agreement on four key points: preventing unauthorised individuals from entering within 150 yards of the border, resolving border issues through dialogue and cooperation, combating misinformation related to border matters, and taking measures to curb illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
The meeting was chaired by Colonel Md. Imran Ibn-e-Rouf, the commander of the BGB’s Rajshahi sector, and DIG Arun Kumar Gautam from the BSF’s Malda sector.
Also in attendance were Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, the commander of the 59th BGB Battalion, and Suruj Singh, the commander of the 119th BSF Battalion. Colonel Kibria stated that a wide range of border-related issues were discussed during the session.
In a separate incident, a Bangladeshi farmer, Al Amin, who was reportedly abducted from the Enayetpur border in Biral, Dinajpur, was returned by the BSF after being held for five and a half hours. The incident occurred on Friday morning, and in response, a few Bangladeshis handed over an Indian farmer to the BGB.
A flag meeting between the BGB and BSF was held at the border at 3:30 PM. Later in the evening, both the Bangladeshi youth and the Indian farmer were sent back to their respective countries. Lieutenant Colonel Ahsan-ul Islam, the commander of the 42nd BGB Battalion in Dinajpur, confirmed the incident.