BGB’s objection leaves 4.35-km stretch unfenced for eight years

 Assam-Bangladesh border fencing

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam-Bangladesh border has remained unfenced at a 4.35-km stretch in the Cachar-Karimganj sector following an objection from the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) that has continued to be the bone of contention for the past eight years.

Raising questions on this issue in every Assembly session has become a routine affair, and so are the replies that 'the government could not complete the border fencing following an objection from the BGB. We have taken up the matter with the Government of India."

According to sources, the dispute is over two points: Dumabari and Sarisha-Kushiarakul. BGB's stand is that there should not be any permanent structure within 150 metres of the no-man's land. If India goes ahead with fencing at these two points, several permanent structures will be built on the 150-metre no-man's land on the Indian side of the border.

In 2017, the Ministry of External Affairs took up the issue with the Bangladesh government, but a tangible solution to the dispute continues to elude Assam.

Assam shares a 262-km border with Bangladesh, and the government has sealed 98 percent of it. The government cannot erect any fencing on the 6.1-km stretch in the Dhubri-Mankachar sector as the area is low-lying. This is apart from the 4.3-kilometre unfenced stretch due to objections from the BGB.

Interestingly, in the just concluded Autumn Session in the State Assembly also, Assam Accord Implementation Minister Atul Bora said on the objection from the BGB, "We have taken up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs."

According to official sources, the dispute lingering for about eight years sounds unbelievable as India and Bangladesh successfully sort out various other issues through talks up to the Prime Minister level.

According to official sources, the 46th high-level empowered committee meeting held on July 30, 2019, sanctioned Rs 4.7 crore for this stretch of the international border and prepared a draft project report (DPR) for the deployment of technological solutions. However, the absence of any positive signal from the BGB side has left the issue unresolved even now.

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