BSF steps up alert along India-Bangladesh border during Republic Day week

BSF calls for operational alert along India-Bangladesh border ahead of Republic Day, conducting drills and enhancing vigilance.

In view of the changed scenario in Bangladesh, the Border Security Force (BSF) has called for an operational alert along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border ahead of the 76th Republic Day.

The ‘Operation Alert’ exercise began on Wednesday and would continue till January 31, a press statement from the Eastern Command of the BSF said. Troops would hold various security drills in forward areas on the border.

“Furthermore, the validity of various operational procedures to address the eventualities on borders as well as reconciliation programmes with the border population will also be conducted,” the press statement by the BSF said.

Additional Director General (Eastern Command), BSF, Ravi Gandhi, visited the border areas in South Bengal Frontier to oversee the operational preparedness. Mr. Gandhi directed all field formations to enhance vigil and stay alert, especially along the riverine borders and unfenced gaps.

“During the period of ‘Operation Alert’, patrolling and other domination duties along the Indo-Bangladesh border will be intensified,” the statement added.

The development assumes significance in the wake of tensions along the India-Bangladesh border, particularly over fencing works. While there have been no major incidents on the border, tensions related to fence work were reported along the Sukdevpur border outpost in Malda, West Bengal. Of the 4,096-km border with Bangladesh, West Bengal shares the longest stretch – 2,216 km.

At certain places, the villagers from both sides of the border have come face to face. In some battalions, the BSF have been pushed along the zero line for better management of the border. The border guarding forces of both the countries had held several meetings at the frontier level and the sector level to ease the situation.