From Aafaque Hussain
KILAPARA (Near the International Border): Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Major General Aziz Ahmed, on Saturday asserted that Bangladesh was not harbouring any militant outfits which were engaged in armed conflict against India.
Talking to media persons on the sideline of a function to unveil a war memorial at Kilapara in West Garo Hills along the international border on Saturday, Ahmed reiterated that Bangladesh would not allow the use of its territory for insurgency activities against India.
The BGB official also expressed his view that the situation has improved and BGB will always cooperate with the Border Security Force (BSF) to guard the international borders in a more effective manner.
Reacting to a query about the handing over dreaded ULFA leader Anup Chetia to India, the BGB chief said that the Bangladesh Government cannot take any decision with regards to his extradition since the matter was being handled by a court of law.
When asked about the idea of opening up of more border haats along the international border, he informed that both the Governments are working to set up more border haats in the coming days.
He also made it clear that the BGB has no complaints with the BSF with regards to the functioning of the border haats and it is for the governments of both the countries to decide on the issue of opening more border haats.
Ahmed also said that both the BSF and the BGB were coordinating with each other to ensure that fencing along the international border is completed at the earliest.
According to Ahmed, border fencing in the western range has been mostly completed but the fencing on the eastern range has not made much of a progress due to the difficult terrain.
“The border is hilly and riverine but we are working out technical solutions to complete the fencing despite the difficult terrain,” he told reporters.
The BGB and the BSF have identified 185 patches along the international border where fencing could not be completed, Ahmed said, adding that the BGB is taking up the matter of border fencing on a priority basis.