BSF plans to develop Wagah-like tourist spots on Meghalaya-Bangla border

SHILLONG: The Border Security Force Meghalaya Frontier is seeking to develop two border outposts along the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya into tourist spots on the lines of the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab.
BSF (Meghalaya Frontier) IG P.K. Dubey on Friday said there are plans to conduct joint retreat ceremonies with Border Guard Bangladesh in the two border outposts of Dawki in West Jaintia Hills and Killapara in West Garo Hills to promote both places as tourist spots.
A proposal of Rs 2 crore has been submitted by the BSF for development of the BOPs into tourist spots. The proposal, however, is pending approval, Dubey informed.
Besides the joint retreat ceremony, there would be display of photographs, arms and ammunitions and screening of documentaries on the history of the two forces for the tourists.
The beating retreat ceremony or “lowering of the flags” is performed at the Attari-Wagah border every evening by the BSF and its Pakistani counterpart, Pakistan Rangers, since 1959 and is a huge tourist attraction.
The BSF official informed that the postures of both the forces during the retreat ceremonies at Dawki and Killapara will be much friendlier.
Last year, the Centre had sanctioned funds to create infrastructure for a ‘beating retreat’ ceremony at Akhaura check post on the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura.