BDR, BSF meet on disputed land in Panchagarh
A flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) was held on Haribhasa border under Sadar upazila in Panchagarh yesterday over the ownership of a disputed land in Khudipara village.
In the last few months, a tense situation had been prevailing over the ownership of 34.6 acres of land adjacent to Haribhasha border.
At the sector commander-level meeting, the BGB officials strongly placed their claim saying that 34.6 acres of the village were within Bangladesh territory for decades while the BSF officials termed it an adversely possessed land.
After discussion, the both sides agreed to keep the land in its previous state until a joint land survey was held and a solution to the issue was found by the high-ups of BGB and BSF.
The BGB, BSF also decided to hold joint patrol on the disputed area.
Rangpur Sector Commander Col Kader Neyamul Fatemi led the seven-member BGB delegation while an eight member BSF team was headed by Shiliguri Sector DIG Reaz Ahmed Khan at the meeting held in Bangladeshi territory.
During the five and half hour long flag meeting that started at 11:30am, BGB also raised various border issues including smuggling of drugs and similar substances including phensidyl from India. On the other hand, BSF objected to alleged trespass by Bangladeshi citizens and cattle smuggling by cutting barbed fences.
Among others, Commanding Officer of 18, BGB Battalion Lt. Colonel Md. Zakir Hossain, Deputy Commanding Officer Maj SM Shamim Reza, Commandant of 48,BSF Battalion Bijoy Sinha, Commandant of 93, BSF Battalion JS Neogi and Commandant of 58, BSF Battalion Man Shing, were present at the meeting.
During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to maintain peace on the border, show highest restraint in special circumstances and resolve border related problems through discussion.
They also agreed to take up programmes to develop awareness among the bordering people so that they obey border rules.
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