India, Bangladesh forces hold flag meeting over CCTV installation for border surveillance: Report

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held a flag meeting on Tuesday over the installation of CCTV cameras along the zero line of the international border in Kurigram.

This comes after the BGB sought a meeting with the BSF, seeking removal of some of the CCTV cameras that the Indian forces installed along the zero line, the Dhaka Tribune reported. The report quoted the BGB sources as saying that the Indian side assured them that the CCTV cameras installed in a specific border area would be removed.

The meeting took place inside the Bangladesh’s territory near Jhakuatari Jame Mosque on the Dakshin Banshjani border.

BGB 22 Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Masudur Rahman said that the meeting was fruitful, and the BSF agreed to remove the CCTV cameras. “They have assured us that the cameras will be taken down by Wednesday,” Rahman said.

The Dhaka Tribune citing sources reported that Bangladesh’s BGB noticed the installation of cameras near the international boundary and sought a flag meeting with the 162 BSF Battalion commander.

During the meeting, the Indian side said that the CCTV cameras had been installed for security reasons around the ‘Twin-Mosque’ area on the zero line.

The meeting was led by BGB 22 Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Masudur Rahman on behalf of Bangladesh, while the 162 BSF Battalion Commander Anil Kumar led the Indian delegation.

India-Bangladesh border row

Recently, tensions have arisen between Bangladesh and India near the international border, resulting in a row.

Bangladesh is concerned about the construction of a barbed wire fence along the India-Bangladesh border. India has initiated fencing projects in several areas to prevent illegal immigration and cross-border terrorism.

However, Bangladesh has expressed concerns about the construction, citing existing agreements that prohibit the construction of defence structures within 150 yards of the border. Both sides are engaged in diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue.

The bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh have been hit by tensions since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, whose government was toppled by a student agitation last year.

Sheikh Hasina regime’s fall

Hasina was ousted in August last year after massive student-led protests in the country and has been residing in India since then.

In the aftermath, an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus and supported by the military has been governing the country.

Recently, Bangladesh has raised objection about a speech that Hasina made from India. The Bangladesh foreign ministry has asked New Delhi to stop her from making “fabricated” comments.