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Indian HC terms fencing legitimate action

Staff Correspondent
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka in a statement yesterday termed fencing work by the BSF within 150 yards of tire zero-line a legitimate activity and said the fencing has no defence potential.
"However, in carrying out this legitimate activity of constructing a fence, BSF has been experiencing resistance from the Bangladeshi side which has led to occasional tensions caused by unprovoked firing by the BDR along the border," the statement said.
India has requested Bangladesh for full cooperation, including the issuance of necessary instructions to the Bangladesh Rifles to avoid any untoward incidents.
The statement also said fencing work by the BSF has been underway since 1989 and greater part of the fence is located at or beyond 150 yards from the zero-line on the Indian side.
"However, in specific areas mainly due to the existence of villages, or as necessitated by terrain conditions the fence had to be built within 150 yards," the Indian High Commission said in the statement. India has formally conveyed details of villages, houses and population within 150 yards of the zero-line to Bangladesh.
It also says India has consistently affirmed that the 1975 Border Guidelines relate to the demolition of defensive structures only. "They do not apply to the building of a fence, which is a physical barrier intended to stop smuggling and other illegal movements across the border. The fence has no defense potential whatsoever," the statement reads.
The statement also said India believes that a misinterpretation of the 1975 Border Guidelines, which were actually drawn up in a spirit of friendship and understanding to guide the two forces, is stalling legitimate development activity.
India did not raise any objection to a request from Bangladesh, made in 1999, to construct a 1320 feet by 10 feet high masonry wall along the HUH Railway Station, within only a few feet from the zero-line, the statement said.
"India'sdecisionwasguided by the spirit of friendship that exists between the two countries and with a view to enable the Bangladeshi authorities to check illegal trans-border movement and to contain criminal activities."
The statement also said that India greatly values its close and friendly relations with Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh government is well aware of India's concerns regarding the illegal and criminal activities on the border, including large-scale smuggling, trafficking of women and children, narcotics trafficking, smuggling of arms and explosives, infiltration, illegal migration, etc.
India on numerous occasions conveyed to the Bangladeshi government that building a fence would help both countries to manage long and highly porous border in a better way, thereby contributing to the further strengthening of bilateral ties.
The Indian High Commission in its statement termed reports by the Bangladesh media regarding construction of the fence by the BSF along the Bangladesh-India border as highly exaggerated and inaccurate.