New Delhi: The tension between India and Bangladesh has risen over the past few months and amid such a scenario, the Foreign Ministry on January 13 summoned Nurul Islam, Bangladesh’s deputy high commissioner to address the issue. Earlier on January 12, the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs had called in Pranay Verma, the Indian High Commissioner after allegations that India was planning to build fences at five designated points along the 4,156-kilometre border with Bangladesh, which was a breach of a bilateral pact governing border activities of both countries. As per Verma, India and Bangladesh have agreements about border fencing. Also, he noted that the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are in touch on the issue.
The border between India and Bangladesh: The point of tension
The border between India and Bangladesh is 4,096-kilometre-long and is the fifth-longest land border in the world. In India, the majority of the border is present in West Bengal and other states where it is present are Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and Meghalaya. In Bangladesh, the divisions of Khulna, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Sylhet are situated along the border. A number of pillars mark the border and small demarcated portions are fenced on both sides.
How was the border between India and Bangladesh established?
After the Partition of India, the Radcliffe Line, named after its architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe acted as the boundary demarcating the newly established dominions of India and Pakistan. The Bengal region was also partitioned with East Bengal being transferred to Pakistan. In 1971, East Bengal was liberated with the help of India and Bangladesh was formed. From then on, India and Bangladesh have continued to share the same line as the boundary. The total length of the border is 4096 km, out of which West Bengal has 2217 km, Assam has 262 km, Meghalaya has 443 km, Tripura has 856 km and Mizoram has 318 km.
The problems in the border: Smuggling and illegal migration
Over the years, the border has become a popular route to smuggle livestock, drugs, medicines and food items from India to Bangladesh. On top of that, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh enter India through the border and the number of immigrants is reportedly massive. Even to this day, illegal immigrants cross the border and enter India, posing a great problem for the BSF and the West Bengal government. Also, occasional skirmishes have taken place between BSF and the BGB, most notably in 2001.
The MoUs on India-Bangladesh border issue
The border issues between India and Bangladesh are governed by four memorandums of understanding (MoUs). Out of those MoUs, the 1975 MoU states that no development regarding defense can take place within 150 yards of the zero line. Also, another MoU states that any development within this boundary requires the consent of two sides and both nations have to reach a prior agreement before any such thing can happen.
Recent tensions between India and Bangladesh escalated following allegations of planned Indian border fencing, violating a bilateral agreement. Both countries summoned each other’s diplomats to address the issue. The 4,096 km border, established after the Partition of India and the 1971 liberation war, faces challenges including smuggling and illegal immigration. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
