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BDR to be strengthened, BOP increased

Staff Correspondent
The government has decided to strengthen the capabilities of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), increase the number of border outposts (BOP) and build roads to enhance security in border areas.
Bangladesh is also considering a US offer of assistance to establish a border management system which would check smuggling of contra band substances and trespassing of criminals.
The prime concern of Bangladesh is to guard the 534km border, known as unguarded frontier, by establishing adequate number of BOPs and building roads along the border connecting the BOPs.
"A long stretch of our border, mainly the border in the remote hilly terrains of Chittagong Hill Tracks (CHT) with India and Myanmar, desperately requires security mechanisms immedi ately," a senior home ministry official toldThe Daily Star.
The Issues and the US offer were discussed during a meeting at the home ministry yesterday with Home Adviser MA Matin in the chair. Additional Director General of BDR, officials of the foreign ministry, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Navy and the intelligence agencies attended the meeting.
Home ministry officials said the meeting was convened to assess the overall border situation against
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the backdrop of the recent killings of BDR men and Bangladeshi nationals by Indian criminals and border guards. However, no discussion was held regarding the killings, they added.
"Our focal point of discussion was to assess the US proposal and the steps through which we can enhance overall security at the border by increasing the capabilities of our border security force," an official said.
The official said the US is keen on building capacity to counter criminal activities that use land and sea ports as well as borders. "Goods, including fish and clothes are being exported to the US without scanning and this is the reason for their |US) concern," the official added.
Referring to the 2015's internationally set deadline to install scanning machines at ports and check every container before shipment, he said the US offered to help install a scanner at the Chittagong Port for testing radioactivity of goods inside containers.
The decision to install scanners at all ports was taken five years ago but not much headway has been made so far due to lack of seriousness of authorities concerned. The Chittagong Port chairman, however, told the meeting that they were at the final stage of the process and scanners would be set up soon.
A US team recently visited Bangladesh to see the border security situation. Comprised of officers of the United States Pacific Command and the United States Border Patrol, the team surveyed Zia International Airport and Chittagong Port, Benapole Landport and a number of border areas.
"The visit was part of the US proposal," said a source, adding that the US formally proposed in June last year regarding enhancement of border security management.
"We will also ask the US to let us know in which areas they are will ing to provide assistance," said the official.
After the meeting, MA Matin told reporters they discussed building capabilities of BDR and improve border security. He declined to say whether the meeting discussed the recent killings on the borders.