West Bengal pushes border fence ahead
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced that his government would begin transferring land to India’s Border Security Force (BSF) for border fencing along the Bangladesh frontier, instructing officials to complete the process within 45 days.
The decision was taken during the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal following the party’s decisive victory in the 2026 state elections.
The cabinet approved several measures, including the border fencing initiative, which Indian media described as one of the administration’s first major policy steps.
Speaking after the meeting, Adhikari said the state government had authorised the handover of land required for barbed-wire fencing along the Bangladesh border.
“The demographic composition of the state has changed. On the very first day, we approved the land transfer process for the Union Home Ministry and the BSF,” he said.
He added that the chief secretary, along with officials from the land and revenue departments, had been directed to complete the process within a month and a half.
Land allocation for fencing had previously been a point of disagreement between the Indian central government and the former West Bengal administration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly criticised the previous state government for delays in handing over land for BSF projects.
Officials said the latest move aims to accelerate construction along unfenced sections of the India-Bangladesh border. Indian media estimates suggest that around 569 kilometres of the border in West Bengal remain unfenced.
The state shares more than 2,200 kilometres of border with Bangladesh, making it one of the most strategically significant frontier regions between the two countries.
The development has drawn attention in Bangladesh due to potential implications for cross-border movement, trade, local communities, and bilateral relations.
Reacting to the reports, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh and its people were “not afraid of barbed wire,” while emphasising the importance of dialogue between neighbouring states. “Barbed wire is no longer something that can frighten a country like Bangladesh.
If anyone wants to build relations with our people, they should know that we do not fear barbed wire.
The Bangladesh government is not afraid of barbed wire either,” he told journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Referring to past incidents of border violence, Kobir said Bangladesh would not tolerate a return to previous practices. “Many people were killed along the border in the past.
We witnessed such incidents during the Hasina period. Inshallah, that kind of situation will never return,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh would respond firmly to any action affecting its sovereignty, while expressing hope that tensions would not escalate.
“We want dialogue with our neighbours. Challenges will remain, but as long as the doors for discussion remain open, there is always an opportunity to resolve problems,” he said, stressing the importance of advancing bilateral relations despite existing challenges.
“We want to advance bilateral relations.
The leadership of both countries must have the mentality to move forward together,” he said, noting that some issues could be resolved quickly while others would take time.
Commenting on the political context in India, Kobir observed that election rhetoric and governance responsibilities often differ.
“Many kinds of statements are made during elections to win votes, but the responsibilities of a government in power are entirely different.
Our relationship will primarily remain with the central government,” he said.
Observers say expanded fencing and increased BSF activity could heighten tensions in some frontier areas, particularly as border shootings and killings remain sensitive issues between the two countries.
Human rights organisations in Bangladesh have repeatedly criticised incidents involving the killing and injury of Bangladeshi nationals along the border.
Rights group Ain o Salish Kendra on Sunday condemned the killing of two Bangladeshi nationals by BSF firing along the Kasba border in Brahmanbaria, describing the incident as a serious violation of human rights.
Analysts believe the latest decision could revive debate over border management and the humanitarian impact of stricter security measures.
They also view the fencing initiative as part of the BJP government’s broader political agenda on migration and border control, issues that featured prominently during the West Bengal election campaign.
On the long-pending Teesta water-sharing issue, Kobir expressed hope that the changed political situation in West Bengal might create a more favourable environment for discussions.
“Previously, the central government needed to consider the views of the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, which became a challenge for us.
Now both the central and state governments are from the same political camp.
We hope this will make things more positive and less challenging,” he said.
