DHAKA: Bangladesh and India are jointly patrolling their common border especially in the unfenced, sensitive and vulnerable areas, an official said here on Monday, reports the Hindu.

“Jawans of the Border Security Force and the Border Guards Bangladesh have been carrying out joint patrolling along the borders to prevent unwanted elements from crossing the borders in view of the political turmoil in Bangladesh,” a BSF official told reporters.

“Such mutual patrolling would continue until the situation becomes normal in Bangladesh. The combined guarding is being done especially along the unfenced, sensitive and vulnerable bordering areas,” the official said.

Borders 5 States

India’s five States — West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram — share a 4,096-km border with Bangladesh. A large portion of the International Border remains unfenced and porous.

There are a large number of thickly populated Bangladeshi villages and towns on the other side of the International Border, making patrolling a delicate task for the Indian border guards and other security forces.

In view of the ongoing political turmoil in that country, India had earlier tightened the vigil along its border with Bangladesh.

Tripura Director General of Police C. Balasubramanian said: “The government has asked the BSF to keep maximum alert along the border. We have asked the Superintendents of Police of bordering districts to take necessary measures to deal with the situation.”

BSF Director General Subhash Joshi last month inspected the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura and other Northeast States to review the security. According to media reports in Bangladesh, over 200 houses and shops belonging to the minority Hindu community have been vandalised and looted by the Jamaat-e-Islami activists in different parts of Bangladesh’s Jessore and Dinajpur districts.

Fresh incidents of rapes and attacks were reported from a village close to Jessore district.

BDST:  0928 HRS, JAN 14, 2014
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