Construction along the border: BSF says ‘repairing existing road’

Amid tension prevailing over the construction work by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), reportedly along the zero line in Kurigram’s Phulbari upazila, BSF has told Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) that they are repairing an existing road.

“The BSF claimed that the paved road on the Indian side dates back to the British period and they are not constructing a new road but are only repairing the old one. At the same time, the BSF assured that the road would not be widened under any circumstances,” said Lt Col Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of Lalmonirhat-15 BGB Battalion.

He shared the development following a flag meeting at the battalion commander level between BGB and BSF held this afternoon at Phulbari’s Khalishakothal border.

Lt Col Mehedi, who led the Bangladesh side at the meeting, further said a BGB inspection team would soon visit the site through the exchange of official letters. “At present, BGB patrols in the area have been intensified, and the overall situation remains normal.”

A joint inspection team comprising members of both the BGB and the BSF would be formed very soon to verify whether the BSF had widened the road under the pretext of repairs, he added.

Regarding whether the road repair work would continue, he said, “BSF will be allowed to carry out repair work. However, new road construction, raising the road level, or installing any new pillars or lampposts is strictly prohibited. We clearly raised these issues during the flag meeting, and BSF has also agreed to comply.”

At the meeting, the Indian side was led by KK Rao, commander of 3 BSF Battalion.

Construction work on the paved road along the Khalishakotal border in Phulbari recently sparked protests from local residents, prompting BGB to convene the flag meeting.