Border fencing, killings, smuggling discussed

The officials of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at a region level flag meeting on Beanibazar borders on Monday agreed to resolve some major disputes through discussions and by taking timely measures.
The border officials took several decisions to avoid clashes over the disputed lands along Sylhet borders while a few other unsettled issues would be raised at the higher level, an official said.
The sector commander-level meeting between the BDR and the BSF was held at Sutarkandi Trade centre in the Indian side, 200 yards off zero line. Sector Commander of BDR, Sylhet-Col Khondaker Obaidul Ahsan led the seven-member Bangladesh side while the DIG of BSF, Shilchar, MP Singh the eight-member Indian side.
Trans-border problems including disputed lands on borders, illegal migration, cattle lifting etc dominated the discussions, the sector commander of BDR, Sylhet told The Daily Star.
The agenda also included border fencing, smuggling of explosives, firearms and liquors from Indian states into Bangladesh, attack on Bangladesh nationals by the Indian border guards and armed civilians, killing of civilians, and harbouring of miscreants and other border crimes.
Meeting agenda also include survey of the disputed lands. In Sylhet region, most of the disputed lands on the border have long been under the possession of the Indian authorities while Bangladeshi farmers are barred from cultivating their lands.