Bangladesh summons India’s High Commissioner, expresses ‘deep concern’ over recent border tussle
Bangladesh on Sunday summoned India’s High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, to express its “deep concern” over recent actions by the Border Security Force (BSF) at the border, amid growing tensions between the two countries.
“Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin today expressed the deep concern of the Government of Bangladesh to the High Commissioner of India, Pranay Verma, at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the recent activities of the Border Security Force (BSF) of India along the Bangladesh-India Border,” the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in the statement.
According to sources, the meeting between the two officials lasted 45 minutes. The Indian envoy was summoned shortly after Dhaka accused India of attempting to construct fences at five locations along the India-Bangladesh border, claiming it violated a bilateral agreement.
“I just met with the Foreign Secretary to discuss India’s commitment to ensuring a crime-free border, effectively addressing challenges of smuggling, movement of criminals, and trafficking,” Verma told reporters after the meeting.
“We have an understanding with regard to fencing the border for security. BSF and BGB (Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh) have been in communication in this regard. We expect that understandings will be implemented and there will be a cooperative approach to combating crime,” he added.
The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary “stressed that such activities, particularly the unauthorized attempt to construct barbed wire fencing and the related operational actions by BSF, have caused tensions and disturbances along the border,” the statement said.