Ban on nighttime movement on border to stop BSF killings

16 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

In a latest move to stop frequent killings of its citizens by Indian border guards, Bangladesh yesterday decided to restrict nighttime movement of the people on the frontier. The home ministry asked local administrations to announce the imposition of the restrictions over loudspeakers. An inter-ministerial meeting on border management also revealed that the Indian authorities have violated an international law by erecting barbed-wire fences at 46 points within 150 yards of the zero line. According to the law, no country can build any fences or establishments inside 150 yards of the borderline. In a joint survey conducted recently, both the countries, however, agreed that India clearly violated the law by constructing the fences at least at 12 points. Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said most of the border killings are taking place at night as the Border Security Force (BSF) of India opens fire on those who move along the border at night. “Smuggling will come down if the movements of people can be restricted,” he told reporter after the meeting. The home secretary said India also imposed similar restrictions on the border to stop killings of its citizens in firing. Bangladesh has long been requesting India for a complete stoppage of such killings on the border. The killings continue despite India's promises at different meetings with Bangladesh. About the erection of barbed-wire fences inside 150 yards of the zero line, the home secretary said Bangladesh officially lodged protest to the Indian authorities. Terming the inter-ministerial meeting a follow-up of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in January this year, Home Minister Sahara Khatun said all the outstanding border issues would be resolved through discussions. Asked to mention the amount of adversely possessed territories of the two countries, Sahara said a complete survey is required to know the exact figure. She emphasised that all the border disputes would be resolved as per the Indira-Mujib Land Boundary Agreement, 1974. The meeting again requested India to destroy contraband phensidyl factories operating in its territories near the border. It also decided to put in place the border pillars, which have been missing for a long period. State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Director General of Bangladesh Rifles Maj Gen Rafiqul Islam and officials of foreign and land ministries were attended the meeting.