India and Bangladesh agree for effective implementation of Comprehensive Border Management Plan to curb border crimes

Dhaka: India and Bangladesh agree for effective implementation of Comprehensive Border Management Plan to curb border crimes

India and Bangladesh have agreed to effectively implement the Comprehensive Border Management Plan (CBMP) to control border crimes including smuggling of drugs and narcotics, arms and ammunition, fake currency and gold among other things.

The decision was taken during the 52nd DG Level Border Conference between Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) which concluded in Dhaka on Thursday. A Joint Record of Discussion (JRD) was signed between BSF and BGB on the concluding day of the 5-day long conference.

Both the countries agreed to strengthen the joint border patrolling especially during the night as a precautionary and effective way to bring down death and injury to unarmed citizens of both countries to zero. The BSF and BGB agreed to undertake more public awareness programmes about the laws governing the international border for the people living in border areas to reduce border incidents to zero. They also agreed to take effective measures to deter the public from indulging in activities like illegal infiltration, smuggling, human trafficking and other border crimes.

Both sides have agreed to take appropriate measures to resume the conservation works of the common rivers of the border as approved by the Joint Rivers Commission on the basis of mutual consensus.

The two countries also agreed to take initiatives for the speedy construction of barbed wire fences within 150 yards of the border at approved locations with approved design in consultation with higher authorities. They also agreed to have a communication channel at the level of nodal officers of BSF and BGB to take quick decisions to implement the stalled development work within 150 yards of the border.

Both sides agreed to take a proper and firm stand against the infiltration of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals across the Bangladesh-India border.

Besides strengthening the cordial relations between the two countries, both the BGB and BSF Director Generals reiterated their commitment to work together to ensure a peaceful and crime-free border.