Why in news?

India summoned Bangladesh's Acting High Commissioner over border security and fencing issues after Bangladesh expressed concerns about alleged violations by the Border Security Force (BSF).

Bangladesh had earlier summoned India’s High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, over BSF's activities, claiming they breached a bilateral agreement.

The tension escalated when Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) attempted to obstruct fencing construction along the West Bengal-Malda border.

The India-Bangladesh border remains a longstanding source of disputes over barbed wire fencing and border management.

What’s in today’s article?

• India – Bangladesh Border (IBB)
• Status of Fencing Along the India-Bangladesh Border
• Fencing Incident along India – Bangladesh Border
• India-Bangladesh border guidelines
• Reasons for the Dispute

India – Bangladesh Border (IBB)

• The India-Bangladesh border is India's longest border measuring 4096.7 km.
• It passes through West Bengal (2216.7 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km).
• The entire border consists of varied geographical features like plains, hills, riverine stretches, and forests with hardly any natural obstacles.
• The India-Bangladesh border is highly porous and a hotspot of illegal immigration, cattle smuggling, human trafficking and other illegal cross border activities.

Status of Fencing Along the India-Bangladesh Border

• Overall Fencing Coverage
  • Out of 4096.7 km of the India-Bangladesh border, 3,141 km have been fenced, covering all eastern states, including West Bengal.
• Fencing in West Bengal
  • As of 2023, 81.5% of west Bengal- Bangladesh border had been fenced, with small patches remaining unfenced due to:
    • Objections from villagers.
    • Challenging terrain.
    • Ongoing negotiations with Bangladesh.
• Challenges in Fencing Completion
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs highlighted delays caused by:
    • Non-cooperation from the West Bengal government.
    • Pending land acquisition in the state.
• Riverine Borders - Over 900 km of the border is riverine, making fencing impossible.
  • These areas are secured by the BSF’s water wing.

Recent Fencing Incident India – Bangladesh Border

• Fencing Incident in Malda's Kaliachak Block
  • The Central Road Works Department and BSF were constructing a single-row fence in Malda’s Kaliachak No. 3 block, near Bangladesh’s Shibganj in Rajshahi district.
  • Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) objected to the construction. These objections were addressed, and construction continued without further disruption.
• Fencing Dispute in Mekhliganj, Cooch Behar
  • On January 10, villagers in Mekhliganj began fencing the boundary of the Bangladeshi enclave Dahagram-Angarpota, supported by the BSF.
  • The four-foot-high barbed-wire fence was intended to prevent cattle from Bangladesh from grazing on Indian crops.
  • BGB intervened to halt the fencing, raising tensions once again.

India-Bangladesh border guidelines

• 1975 Border Guidelines Between India and Bangladesh
  • The 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines prohibit constructing defence structures within 150 yards of the international boundary (zero line).
  • India does not classify wire fencing as defence structures, but Bangladesh and Pakistan do.
• Challenges Due to Border Complexity
  • The border in West Bengal is marked by villages, rivers, and enclaves, complicating fencing construction.
  • Villages and houses often lie within the fencing line or directly on the international border.
  • For example, the Dahagram–Angarpota enclave in Jalpaiguri, a Bangladeshi territory within India, has fencing on the zero line.
• Exceptions to the 150-Yard Rule
  • In cases where terrain, population, or water bodies make fencing at 150 yards impractical, construction near the border is negotiated with Bangladesh.
  • Villages located within 20 yards of the boundary are not relocated; instead, fencing is built close to the zero line.
• Facilitation for Residents
  • Gates are installed along the fencing to ensure residents’ movement, with timings determined in consultation with villagers and local administration.
  • In emergencies, BSF soldiers have standing instructions to open gates immediately.
• Negotiation and Approval for Fencing
  • The BSF informs the BGB when exceptions to the guidelines are necessary.
  • After mutual agreement, fencing construction begins in sensitive or challenging areas.

Reasons for the Dispute

• Violation of the 1975 Agreement
  • Bangladesh opposes fencing within 150 yards of the international border, citing the 1975 India-Bangladesh guidelines.
  • They argue that even single-row fencing (SRF) breaches this agreement.
• Impact on Border Residents
  • Fencing causes inconvenience to residents living along the border, restricting their movement and activities.
• Indian Perspective on SRF
  • SRF is intended to control animal movement and curb trans-border crimes, not as a defence structure.
  • Unlike concrete walls, bunkers, or ditch cum bandh (DCB), SRF has no defence potential.
• Objection to Smart Fencing
  • Bangladesh objects to smart fencing, which includes CCTV and electronic surveillance, claiming it enables India to monitor their territory.
  • Smart fencing is primarily installed in areas where villages are within 150 yards of the border or on the boundary itself.
• Issue of Trans-Border Crimes
  • Around 60% of trans-border crimes occur in areas without fencing, especially where villages are located on the international boundary.
  • India argues that fencing would help reduce such crimes, but Bangladesh remains unyielding.
• Ongoing Discussions
  • The fencing issue has been under discussion for over five years, with frequent objections raised by BGB during flag meetings.