Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 13: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner, Md Nural Islam, in New Delhi on Monday, January 13, amid rising tensions over border-related issues. This move followed Bangladesh’s summoning of Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma a day earlier in Dhaka over allegations of border fence construction.

The dispute revolves around claims by Dhaka that India attempted to construct fencing at five locations along the Indo-Bangla border, allegedly violating a bilateral agreement. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry conveyed its concerns to Verma during a 45-minute meeting with Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin at 3:00 pm local time, according to reports from the state-run BSS news agency.

Though no official statements were released immediately after the discussions, Verma addressed the media, emphasizing the existing agreements between the two nations regarding border security. “India and Bangladesh have mutual understandings concerning fencing the border to ensure security,” Verma stated. He added that the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been in constant communication, working to maintain cooperation and combat crimes along the shared boundary.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser, Lt Gen (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, noted that construction of barbed wire fencing by India had been halted following strong resistance from BGB forces and local residents.

The diplomatic exchanges highlight the ongoing challenges in managing one of the world’s most porous borders, where both nations strive to balance security concerns with the sensitivities of local populations and bilateral agreements. Both sides have expressed hope for a cooperative resolution to the issue, underscoring the importance of maintaining strong ties amidst occasional tensions.