Uneasy Calm on Sylhet Border

BSF refuses to hold flag meet

16 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

An uneasy calm prevailed in border areas in Sylhet yesterday, a day after the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles traded fires at different points of the 20-km border from Jaintapur to Bichhnakandi. The BSF yesterday refused to hold a battalion commander-level flag meeting, which was proposed by BDR on Tuesday afternoon after the gunfire. However, no firing took place yesterday, an official in the BDR 21 battalion headquarters in Sylhet said. On Tuesday afternoon, Lt Col Khondaker Zahirul Alam sent a proposal for flag meeting, but the BSF declined, the official said, adding that the BDR would continue its efforts to hold the meeting. Major Abdullah Al Mamun of the 21 Battalion said BDR members have been put on alert as the BSF increased troop deployment in the last three days after the Indian Khasia tribes men tried to cultivate some farmlands near Alubagan area, over 200 yards inside the Bangladesh territory. Meanwhile, immigration activities and border trade through the Tamabil land customs station resumed yesterday, official sources said. More than 30 Indian trucks crossed the border as of 2:00pm, said the station in-charge Syed Aminur Rahman.