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Fencing in line with accords, Dhaka told

India summons Bangladesh envoy
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India on Monday stood firm in its stance on the ongoing fencing project in its territory along the India-Bangladesh border, saying it had observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments.

New Delhi conveyed its message to Dhaka through Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Nural Islam, who was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

There was a flare-up between the two countries earlier this week after the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) objected to the BSF’s attempt to erect fencing in certain areas along the border. The BSF and the BGB’s Director General-level talks are scheduled for next month and the matter is expected to come up for discussions.

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The development comes as tensions continue to simmer between the two countries with Dhaka on Sunday summoning Indian Ambassador Pranay Verma to convey its message that the fencing project at the border is “unauthorised”, which “undermines the spirit of cooperation between the two countries”.

The fencing by India is meant to stop illegal migration from the neighbouring country. Nearly 800 km of the 4,096 km boundary between the two countries does not have a fence. On the Dhaka envoy being summoned, the MEA said, “It was conveyed to him that while taking security measures at the border, including fencing, India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments and between the BSF and the BGB”.
New Delhi reiterated its commitment to ensuring a “crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking.” “Barbed wire fencing, border lighting, installation of technical devices and cattle fences are among the measures for securing the border,” the MEA said.
“India conveyed its expectation that all earlier understandings will be implemented by Bangladesh and that there will be a cooperative approach to combat cross-border crimes,” it added. On Sunday, the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka released a statement saying, “Foreign Secretary Mohd Jashim Uddin expressed deep concern to the Indian envoy… and asked India to refrain from any provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the border”.
It said activities, particularly the “unauthorised attempt to construct a barbed wire fencing and related operational actions by the BSF, had caused tensions and disturbances.
Since August last year, when Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus became the head of the interim government in Bangladesh, the relations between the two countries have soured.
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