Home Affairs Advisor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that Bangladesh’s voice in the upcoming BGB-BSF Director General-level border conference with India will be different than before.
He made the remarks at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday (January 29). Earlier, an inter-ministerial preparatory meeting was held to discuss various issues related to the Bangladesh-India border for the 55th BGB-BSF border conference to be held in New Delhi, India from February 17-20, where the Home Affairs Advisor presided.
When asked about the agenda after the meeting, a journalist wanted to know what would be new. In response, the advisor said, “What are you looking for new? The new thing is that the tone of the speeches given earlier will be different this time.”
The advisor said that the content of the discussions and Bangladesh’s position at the border conference have been decided.
He said that the main discussion will be to stop the firing of unarmed Bangladeshi citizens by BSF and Indian nationals and to completely stop the border killings. This is not acceptable in any way.
The advisor also said that sometimes BSF and Indian miscreants detain Bangladeshis while working on the border, which will be stopped, the Indian side will be informed about. Besides, there will also be discussions on preventing illegal crossing by violating the border.
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that Indians have a tendency to set up drug and phensedyl factories near the border and smuggle them into Bangladesh. This issue will also be discussed. Besides, some activities are not allowed to be conducted within 150 yards of the border, but India sometimes wants to do so, which cannot be done without the consent of both countries.
He also said that Indian industrial waste is entering Bangladesh through Agartala, on which there is an agreement between both countries. However, although the agreement says “ETP/STP”, in reality it should have been “ETP and STP”. This issue will also be discussed with the Indian side.
The advisor said that the issue of equitable distribution of water of Bangladesh’s rivers will be included in the discussion at the border conference. Especially the small rivers will be discussed, because there is a separate river commission for the big rivers.
He said that there are some problems in demarcating the border by installing border pillars in the Muhurir Char in Feni, which will also be discussed.
The issue of spreading fake news by the Indian media will also be discussed, so that a solution can be found on how to stop it.
He also said that the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) will be discussed with the Indian side, because it is an important issue.
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that ways to further strengthen mutual relations and trust between the two countries will also be discussed.
Noting that the previous government had made several unequal agreements with India, he said that the cancellation of these agreements will be discussed. Bangladesh has already informed India through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, objecting to the structure of the previous agreements.
The advisor also said that the fines for those who are staying in Bangladesh even after their visas have expired have been increased. They can leave by January 31 by paying the fine, but legal action will be taken against those who remain after that.
BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui told reporters that border killings, construction of fences within 150 yards, the problems of Angar Pota-Dahgram in Chapainawabganj and issues related to rivers will be the main agenda of Bangladesh and no concessions will be made on these issues.
