A flag meeting was held between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India's Border Security Force (BSF) to address tensions over the construction of a barbed wire fence near Bastabar border in Naogaon's Dhamoirhat upazila.
The meeting, which took place at 4:30 PM on the zero line near the border outpost (BOP), was attended by the commander of BGB's Bastabar BOP from the 14th Battalion and the commander of BSF's Shibpur Company from the 123rd Battalion.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, commanding officer of BGB's 14th Battalion, stated that the discussion between the two sides was cordial. The BSF agreed to suspend the construction of the barbed wire fence. Any decision regarding fencing or road construction along the border will now be decided through discussions at higher levels of both forces.
The BSF assured BGB that no structures or fences would be built within 150 yards of the zero line, adhering to international regulations. Lieutenant Colonel Hossain emphasized that BGB would take necessary action if this agreement is violated.
According to BGB and local sources, international law prohibits the construction of fences or structures within 150 yards of the zero line, except for agricultural purposes. Despite this, BSF personnel had begun construction activities, prompting intervention by BGB personnel. The construction was halted, and BSF members left the site without completing their work.
The meeting has eased tensions in the area, with both sides committing to upholding international agreements and engaging in further dialogue to resolve border-related issues.
