United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that the country’s borders are fully secure and measures are being implemented to enhance border security. “Even if blood is shed, the border will remain secure,” the adviser said on Sunday. He was speaking at the certificate distribution and closing ceremony of the 137th Survey and Settlement Training Course, 2024-25, for officers from various sectors on Sunday, the adviser stressed that the security of the border remains a top priority. Officers from the BCS cadre (Administration, Police, Forest, and Railway) and the Bangladesh Judicial Service attended the course. The adviser highlighted that border security has significantly improved under the current administration. “The public is now on our side. Previously, no measures were taken to secure the border. Now, steps are being taken, which is why problems are arising,” Jahangir Alam said, adding that while there are issues at the border, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is consistently on high alert. Read: Bangladeshi, Indian civilians face off along Chapainawabganj border “Though problems may occur, no one from the other side will be able to cross,” Chowdhury said, reaffirming that the situation is under control. He also mentioned that the recent incident along the Chapainawabganj border, which was triggered by a dispute over cutting paddy and trees, was resolved peacefully through dialogue between the BGB and the Border Security Force (BSF) of India. Read more: March for Felani: Sarjis Alam vows justice for border killing victims On the corruption issue, the adviser mentioned its detrimental impact on the country’s progress. "If corruption is not reduced, it will be impossible for the country to advance."  Jahangir Alam pointed out that civil servants often show reluctance in providing services when there is no fear of losing their positions, attributing this to the lack of discipline and political influence among the cadres.

India has been compelled to halt the construction of barbed-wire fences along several border areas following the strong stance taken by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local residents, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on the Bangladesh-India border situation, the adviser said that India had initiated fencing work at five points along the border. Mentioning that four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between the two countries regarding border demarcation and the responsibilities of respective border forces, he said, "These agreements stipulate that no defense-related construction or development work can be carried out within 150 yards of the zero line without mutual consent.” The adviser mentioned that India has already fenced 3,271 kilometres out of the 4,156-kilometre border shared with Bangladesh, leaving 885 kilometres unfenced. BSF obstructs reconstruction of mosque at Beanibazar border He criticised the previous government for permitting certain actions by India that were against Bangladesh’s interests. “From 2010 to 2023, India constructed fences in 160 locations, creating complications. Another 78 spots also face issues and recently, disputes have arisen at five locations, including Chapainawabganj, the Tin Bigha Corridor in Lalmonirhat, Patnitala in Naogaon, Feni, Kushtia, and Cumilla,” he said. The adviser revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed and the Indian High Commissioner may be summoned soon to discuss the matter. "Work at all disputed points has been halted and we will not allow further activities." Tin Bigha Corridor Dispute On the issue of the Tin Bigha Corridor, the adviser criticised the lack of reciprocity in agreements. "In 1974, Bangladesh handed over Berubari following the treaty, which was ratified by our Parliament. In return, India was supposed to provide us with permanent access to the Tin Bigha Corridor. While we fulfilled our part, India failed to ratify the agreement in their Parliament," he said. BGB intervenes in BSF's attempt to build fence at Lalmonirhat border Despite a 2010 agreement to ensure 24-hour access through the corridor, India constructed fences in the Angorpota-Dahagram area, violating the clause that prohibits construction within 150 yards of the zero line, he explained. “Legally, our ability to obstruct such actions is limited due to prior agreements. If we become overly assertive, India might retaliate by restricting access to the corridor,” he said. The upcoming BGB-BSF director general-level meeting in February is expected to address these concerns, he said, adding, "We aim to resolve the disputes through discussions and formal communication, including a letter requesting the cancellation of previous unequal agreements." Strengthening Border Security When asked about measures to enhance border security, the adviser stressed that Bangladesh has ample resources and the support of its people. "The people are our greatest strength. Together with the BGB, we will overcome any challenges posed by India’s activities," he said. ‘Bullet fired from Indian side’ kills youth along Sunamganj border On whether Bangladesh plans to annul the concessions granted by previous administrations, Jahangir Alam stated, "Our Director General will raise the issue during the February meeting. We will also formally request India to void the unfavorable agreements." Despite the complexities, the adviser expressed optimism about resolving the disputes, crediting the vigilance of journalists and public awareness. "Media reports have been instrumental in prompting swift action. If not for your efforts, such issues might have escalated," he said.

A Bangladeshi youth was killed by bullets  allegedly fired from the Indian side along Chinakandi border area in Bishwambharpur upazila  of Sunamganj on Wednesday. The deceased was identified Md Saidul Islam, 24, son of Joynal Abedin, a resident of Gamatola Khaspara East in Dhanpur union of the upazila. Sunamganj Battalion 28 BGB Commander AKM Zakaria Qadir said  it is still unconfirmed whether the shots were fired by BSF personnel or Indian Garos. A flag meeting has been scheduled between the Machimpur BOP and Karaigara BSF camp in India regarding the matter, he said. Caretaker’s body found in Faridpur with hands and feet tied Locals said Saidul Islam might have been killed by BSF possibly after an altercation between him and the BSF personnel while he was attempting to cross the border with betel nuts. He was rushed to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital where the attending physician Dr Shafiqur Islam  confirmed his death. The deceased had two gunshot wounds on his chest and stomach and the nature of the bullet will be determined following an autopsy, he said.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) thwarted yet another attempt by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to construct a barbed wire fence along the Panchbibi border in Joypurhat. The incident occurred early Saturday around 5:30 am in the Sonatala border area under the jurisdiction of the Hatkhola BOP camp. Lt Col Mohammad Nahid Newaz, commander of Joypurhat-20 BGB Battalion, confirmed the matter. International law prohibits any construction within 150 yards of the border. Despite this, BSF personnel began erecting a temporary barbed wire fence using bamboo poles approximately 20 yards inside Indian territory, near the third and fourth sub-pillars of main pillar 280, according to BGB sources and local residents. 7 held while trying to enter India through Dinajpur border Local residents alerted the BGB patrol team, who arrived at the scene to intervene. The BGB’s action forced the BSF to halt their construction efforts, ensuring the integrity of the border remained intact. In a related development, a flag meeting was held on Saturday evening between the BGB and the BSF. Under the leadership of Naik Subedar Naeemul Islam, company commander of Koya BOP, and AC Ankur, company commander of the 137 Battalion BSF, both sides discussed the ongoing issue of border construction. The BSF commander assured the BGB that there would be no further attempts to construct the barbed wire fence outside areas allowed under international law. On October 17, BSF members had made two attempts to build a barbed wire fence using iron poles in the same area, but their efforts were similarly obstructed by BGB personnel. Following those incidents, a protest letter was sent by Joypurhat Battalion-20 BGB to the commander of the 137 Battalion BSF.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained six Bangladeshis including three of a family while allegedly trying to trespass into India through the border in Panchagarh on Thursday night. The detainees are Ganesh Roy, 43, his wife Babita Roy, 36, their son Drisha Roy, 10, Debendra Roy, 22, Joyanta Roy, 19, and Ripon Roy, 19. All the detainees hailed from several areas under Birganj upazila of Dinajpur. According to a media release sent from the BGB-56 in Nilphamari under Thakurgaon sector, a team of the frontier force conducted a drive in bordering Goalpara area under Panchagarh Sadar upazila at night after being informed that some Bangladeshis were trying to intrude into India with the help of brokers. Later they were detained. Read: 16 Bangladeshi fishermen retuned to BGB from Arakan Army custody During the primary interrogation, the detainees admitted they gave Tk one lakh in cash to brokers to help them go to India, according to the release. The detainees were handed over to the relevant police station to take legal actions against them, it said. Lt. Col Sheikh Mohammad Badruzzaman, commandant of the BGB-56 battalion, said they are vigilant to curb intrusion into India.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained two Bangladeshi citizens while allegedly trying to trespass into India through the border in Biral upazila of Dinajpur early Friday. The detainees are Magnet Roy, 25, son of Rama Roy of Dinajpur’s Bochaganj and Likhan Roy, 19, son of Profulla Roy, of Palashbaria area under Nilphamari Sadar upazila. Read: BGB detains 5 people while trying to enter India illegally thru Dinajpur border Ahsan-ul-Islam, commandant of the BGB-42 in Dinajpur, said they detained the two from Nonagram area under Bhandara union of the Biral upazila along the border with India after being tipped-off that some Bangladeshis were intruding into India. The detainees were handed over to the concerned police station to take legal action in this regard, he added. Read more: BGB detains local AL leader, his brother from Sylhet border

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) claimed to have detained a person with 45 gold bars along the India border in the district on Tuesday. Md Azizur Rahman, 58, is from Durgapur village under Aditmari upazila in the district, according to a press release signed by BGB-15 Commandant Lieutenant Colonel Mofazzal Hossain Akanda. The battalion received a tip that a big consignment of gold was going to be smuggled to India through Kutichar border area under the Aditmari upazila. As per the information, BGB men took up positions along the border and eventually challenged a person heading towards the border. But instead of cooperating, this man, who would turn out to be Azizur, tried to run away, and BGB gave chase. Read more: BGB detains woman with gold worth over Tk 8 million in Benapole The BGB personnel eventually detained Azizur and recovered the gold weighing around 5.249 kilograms from his body. The market value of the gold is estimated to be around Tk 4.5 crore. The gold bars were wrapped with cloth and tape.   Later, the detainee was handed over to the concerned police station where a process was underway to file a case in this connection, the BGB release added. Later, the detainee was handed over to the concerned police station where a process was underway to file a case in this connection, the BGB release added.

Hong Kong’s leader said Saturday that China has agreed to a reopening of the city’s border with the mainland, which has been largely closed by pandemic restrictions, and that he is aiming for a mid-January start. Chief Executive John Lee, returning from a trip to Beijing where he met President Xi Jinping and other officials, told reporters at the Hong Kong airport that the two sides would develop a plan to reopen the border in a gradual and orderly manner. The announcement came as China is easing a “zero-COVID” policy that has restricted entry to the country, isolated infected people and locked down areas with outbreaks. Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous Chinese territory that borders Guangdong province in southeast China. People must pass through immigration to cross between the two, and most land and sea entry points have been closed and controls tightened because of the pandemic. Read more: Thousands flee Hong Kong for UK, fearing China crackdown Lee has made a full reopening of the border a priority to boost the city’s flagging economy. The issue was one of several on his agenda for this week’s trip to Beijing to deliver an annual report to the central government, his first such report since taking office on July 1. He offered no details on how the border might be reopened, and whether it would include an elimination of the five days of hotel quarantine required for people entering mainland China.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked BGB personnel to continue performing their responsibilities with utmost sincerity, including protecting the borders; combating smuggling, drug trade, human trafficking, inter-border crimes; and providing security to the lives and property of the people living in the bordering areas. She also extended her thanks to the BGB members as they have been fulfilling their responsibilities with competence. The premier was addressing the parade of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day-2022 at its headquarters in Dhaka. Read more: Nation never wants a repeat of Feb 2009 tragedy: PM to BGB personnel The PM said the border guards played a responsible role during the peaceful exchange of enclaves between Bangladesh and India. “We set an example for the world by exchanging enclaves amid a festive atmosphere,” she said. During the Rohingya influx into Bangladesh, BGB also carried out their responsibilities with efficiency, including the registration of the displaced people, she added. Focusing on the modernisation of BGB during her regime, Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government has carried out massive development works and enacted a new law in order to enhance the capacity of the force under the BGB reform initiative. “BGB got the organizational shape of an efficient, strong, modern three-dimensional force,” she said, adding that now BGB is capable of performing its duty on land, water and air. The PM said her government has adopted the 'Border Guard Bangladesh Vision-2041' in a bid to develop the BGB as a world-class border guard force. Read more: Boost food production to avert any crisis: PM Hasina The 'Smart Digital Surveillance and Tactical Border Response System' has been installed at vulnerable border areas for seamless surveillance and countering trans-border terrorism, she said. Thanks to addition of the advanced and up-to-date weapons and equipment to the BGB, its operational capacity and competence has been enhanced, she noted. The PM said the present government has taken a plan to construct a total of 1,036 km of border roads with an aim of increasing the security of the hilly border areas and uplifting the socio-economic condition of the people living in the remote areas. The construction of 317 km border road in the first phase is in progress, she informed. The premier thanked the BGB for removing the words “Pak” or “Pakistan” from 14,005 border pillars on Bangladesh-India border and writing “Bangladesh” or “BD” in their places.

Seven suspected cartel gunmen and one soldier were killed in a shootout Wednesday between the army and gang members in the northern Mexico border city of Nuevo Laredo, authorities said. The shootings were the second time in as many weeks that large-scale violence has hit Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas. Police in the border state of Tamaulipas said military personnel were attacked and one soldeier was killed and seven were wounded. Seven presumed attackers also died, police said. The shootout took place on a roadway about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the U.S. border. State police said there had been “risk situations” — usually a reference to gunfire — at several points in the city, but that the outbreaks had been controlled. In late November, gunfire in Nuevo Laredo forced the cancellation of school classes and an advisory from the U.S. Consulate to shelter in place. Also read: 15-year-old boy killed five people in a shooting spree in Raleigh: Police President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the shootings in November came in response to the arrest of a cartel leader, but did not elaborate. The city has long been dominated by the Northeast cartel, an offshoot of the old Zetas gang. The U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo cancelled visa appointments Wednesday.