New Delhi [India]: India has conveyed to Bangladesh Acting High Commissioner Md. Nural Islam that it adheres to “all protocols and agreements” regarding security measures at the Indo-Bangladesh border, including fencing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.
The Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh was summoned by the MEA to the South Block at 2:00 pm on Monday.
During the meeting, India reiterated its commitment to ensuring a “crime-free border” by addressing cross-border challenges such as smuggling, trafficking, and the movement of criminals. The MEA emphasized that security measures, including barbed wire fencing, border lighting, the installation of technical devices, and cattle fences, are essential for safeguarding the border.
“It was conveyed that with regard to security measures at the border, including on fencing, India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments and between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB),” the MEA statement read.
India also called for cooperation from Bangladesh in combating cross-border crimes, stressing the importance of implementing previous understandings. “India conveyed its expectation that all earlier understandings will be implemented by Bangladesh and that there will be a cooperative approach to combating cross-border crimes,” the statement added.
The summon followed an incident on Sunday when the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, was called by the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry. Bangladesh expressed “deep concern” over recent fencing activities along the border and formally raised objections to the actions of India’s Border Security Force (BSF).
“Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin expressed the deep concern of the Government of Bangladesh to the High Commissioner of India, Pranay Verma, at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the recent activities of the Border Security Force (BSF) of India along the Bangladesh-India Border,” read a statement from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry.
The discussions highlight ongoing efforts by both nations to address border security issues and maintain bilateral agreements, ensuring a collaborative approach to shared challenges.