Central government says will take strict steps against Bangladesh to stop cross-border crimes

India has conveyed to Bangladesh in no uncertain terms that it will make proper arrangements for eradicating cross-border offenses in Bangladesh. In its reply in Parliament, the government mentioned that about 864.482 km of the India-Bangladesh boundary is yet to be fenced and 174.514 km of such fencing is a non-viable trench.

Responding to questions raised by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sajda Ahmed about fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, Union Minister of State for Home (MoS) Nityanand Rai on Tuesday said that India follows all protocols and agreements between the two governments and the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh.

Rai said in his written reply, "The Government of India expects that all prior agreements will be implemented by Bangladesh and a collaborative approach will be adopted to deal with cross-border crimes, which has also been conveyed to the Government of Bangladesh."

It had expressed "deep concern" over the recent fencing along the border and summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma to express its objections.

Rai told the House that out of the 4,096.7 km of the India-Bangladesh border, 3,232.218 km has been fenced. Challenges in completing the feasible portions of the fencing projects are related to land acquisition, objections to the limited working period of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and landslides and marshy land.

Fencing is important for border security as it helps ensure a crime-free border by addressing the challenges of smuggling, the movement of criminals, and cross-border criminal activities.