BSF halts overnight road building near border as BGB intervenes

Overnight road construction near Kurigram border halted after BGB intervention_11zon

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) attempted to construct a new road overnight near the Khalishakothal border in Fulbari upazila of Kurigram, very close to the Bangladesh border, local sources said. The planned road stretched nearly one kilometer.

Alerted by locals, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel arrived at the site and forced the BSF to halt construction. The Indian side gradually began removing construction materials.

A flag meeting between BGB and BSF was held Thursday noon near International Main Pillar 934.

BGB was represented by Subedar Abu Taher, camp commander of Balarhat under Lalmonirhat-15 Battalion, while BSF was led by Inspector Dipak Kumar from Megh Narayan Kuthi camp in Sahibganj, Cooch Behar district.

According to BGB and local sources, a main road connecting Kurshahat and Dinhata in Cooch Behar district runs within Indian territory, 50–120 yards from the Bangladesh border along the 1 km stretch from Pillar 934-1S to 934-11S. BSF had been carrying out overnight construction work adjacent to the old road in recent days.

Local residents, Mojir Rahman and Nur Alam Lipu, said BSF had been working on the new paved road for 2–3 days. BGB increased patrols in response.

Subedar Abu Taher confirmed that the flag meeting took place and BGB patrols continue to monitor the area. Subedar Naresh Chandra Roy of Shimulbari Camp added that a higher-level flag meeting between BGB and BSF commanders may be held in the coming days to maintain normalcy. - UNB