BSF breaks promise to build road at Phulbari border

A battalion-level flag meeting was held between the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday (January 12) at the Khalisakotal border in Naodanga Union, focusing on road construction at the Khalisakotal border in Phulbari Upazila of Kurigram.

The 30-minute meeting, which was held at the invitation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), discussed various border-related issues between the two countries. The meeting was attended by BSF 3 Battalion Commander K K Rao from India and BGB 15 Battalion Commander Lt Col Mehdi Imam from Bangladesh.

According to local and BGB sources, BSF members gathered with a large amount of equipment to construct a four-lane road in the Krishimat Karla area of ​​the main Kurshahat-Dinhata road on the other side of the Khalisakotal border late on Wednesday night. Upon learning of the matter, the BGB protested against it on Thursday afternoon. Although the work was stopped for some time in the face of the protest, the construction work was resumed late at night.

There are allegations that the BSF, in violation of international law, secretly turned on searchlights and attempted to quickly complete construction work in the dark of night.

It is learned that several flag meetings were held between BGB and BSF on this issue at the Khalisakotal border. In that meeting, Meghna Narayan Kuti, Company Commander of BSF's 3rd Battalion, promised to stop the work. However, since the work was still being carried out secretly, a battalion-level flag meeting was held on Monday. In this meeting, various issues including the border situation were discussed.

Locals said that the road under construction is located very close to the border. In the area from sub-pillar 1 to 11S of the international main pillar 934, there is Bangladeshi territory of 70 yards, 20-60 yards and 100 yards. As a result, there is no scope for construction of a new road in that area under international law.

Lieutenant Colonel Mehdi Imam, commander of the 15th BGB Battalion, said that there is no scope for building new roads under the International Border Law. However, old roads can be renovated.

The BSF is claiming to be doing earthworks by showing pictures of the old road. It was decided in the meeting that the BSF will provide a written letter and accordingly a joint team from both the countries will visit the site and conduct a survey.