India-Bangladesh Border Fencing Dispute: A Growing Concern

Why in the NEWS?

• India summoned Bangladesh's acting high commissioner over the ongoing construction of border fencing, which Bangladesh claims violates bilateral agreements and threatens regional stability.
  

Key Points:

• Fencing dispute: 
  • India and Bangladesh disagree over the construction of border fencing, especially in Malda and Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal, with Bangladesh claiming it violates a 1975 bilateral agreement.
• India's defence: 
  • India claims the fence is for security to prevent cross-border crimes such as smuggling and illegal immigration, insisting it is not a military structure.
• Bangladesh's concerns: 
  • Bangladesh has objected to fencing within 150 yards of the international border, citing concerns over the 1975 guidelines and its impact on local residents.

Background and Historical Context

• India and Bangladesh share a 4,096.7 km border, the longest land border India shares with any neighbour.
• The border is the result of the 1947 Partition and subsequent adjustments, creating a complex mix of villages, rivers, and varied terrain.
• Border security cooperation has been maintained historically, but fencing along the border has become a contentious issue.
• The 1975 India-Bangladesh Border Guidelines prohibit building defense structures within 150 yards of the international boundary to protect local communities.
• India initiated fencing in the past decades to address security challenges like illegal immigration, smuggling, and cross-border crimes.
• While India emphasizes fencing's importance for security, Bangladesh raises concerns over its effects on sovereignty and local residents.

Recent Events and Clashes

• The dispute escalated when BSF and the central Road Works Department began constructing a single-row fence (SRF) in Malda’s Kaliachak No 3 block near Bangladesh’s Shibganj.
• Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB) intervened, claiming the fence construction violated the 1975 guidelines.
• Video footage of the incident showed the BGB attempting to block fence installation, which caused heightened tensions.
• In January 2023, the dispute resurfaced in Cooch Behar’s Mekhliganj area, where villagers, with BSF help, erected a fence to stop cattle from crossing into India, leading to objections from BGB.

Fencing and Its Purpose

• India defends the construction of border fences as a necessary security measure to control the movement of people and animals across the border.
• The fencing aims to prevent cross-border crimes such as cattle smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.
• India stresses that the fencing is not a military structure and does not involve defense mechanisms like concrete walls or bunkers.
• Bangladesh, however, views the fencing as a potential threat to national security, especially with the inclusion of smart fencing technology.

The 1975 India-Bangladesh Border Guidelines

• The 1975 guidelines prohibit constructing defense structures within 150 yards of the border to avoid disrupting local communities.
• India maintains that barbed-wire fencing does not fall under "defensive structures," thus not violating the guidelines.
• Bangladesh, on the other hand, argues that any construction within the 150-yard zone is a violation of the agreement.
• In areas where villages are located within 150 yards of the border, India has provided gates for residents to pass through, with their timings regulated by local discussions.

Technological Advances in Border Fencing

• India has introduced smart fencing technologies, including CCTV cameras, motion detectors, and electronic surveillance gadgets.
• India argues that these technologies are vital for monitoring and preventing cross-border illegal activities.
• Bangladesh fears that the smart fencing may be used for espionage, which has made this technology a point of contention.
• Diplomatic efforts to resolve the smart fencing issue have largely been unsuccessful, with these technologies remaining a central dispute for the past five years.

Challenges in Fencing Implementation

• While India has fenced 3,141 kilometers of the India-Bangladesh border, approximately 900 kilometres remain unfenced, primarily in waterlogged or difficult terrain.
• In some areas, such as Jalpaiguri in north Bengal, where the Dahagram–Angarpota enclave lies, natural barriers like rivers make fencing practically impossible.
• India has utilized BSF’s water wing to patrol and secure such areas.

Local Resistance and Border Demarcation Issues

• Many villages along the border have raised objections to fencing as it disrupts their daily lives and livelihoods.
• The border region is densely populated, with villages close to the international boundary, making fencing implementation challenging.
• Negotiations between India and Bangladesh are ongoing to address these concerns while ensuring the rights of local residents are protected.

The Road Ahead

• The border fencing dispute between India and Bangladesh is a delicate balance between national security and local community concerns.
• While India insists that fencing is essential for preventing cross-border crimes, Bangladesh views it as an infringement on its sovereignty.
• Both countries must continue diplomatic negotiations to resolve these differences and ensure the protection of their shared border.
• The issue will remain contentious, especially in sensitive areas like Malda and Cooch Behar, and will require continued dialogue to prevent further tensions.