Trade with Bangladesh stays suspended; BSF opinions operational preparedness alongside border
Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary opinions tactical and operational preparedness throughout a go to to India-Bangladesh border, in North 24 Parganas district, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Amidst ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, commerce between India and Bangladesh remained suspended and senior officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday (August6, 2024) reviewed operational preparedness alongside the border.
BSF Director General (DG) Daljit Singh Chaudhury and different commanders of the border guarding drive visited the Integrated Check Point at Petrapole and the border outpost Ranaghat of the 68th Battalion deployed on the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.
“The primary objective is to assess the tactical and operational preparedness and deployment strategies of BSF at these key locations in view of the recent developments in Bangladesh,” a press assertion by the BSF stated. The border guarding forces have introduced a “high alert” alongside the India-Bangladesh border.
The BSF DG has been visiting bordering areas in West Bengal for the previous two days after the state of affairs in Bangladesh turned risky forcing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and depart the nation. During the day, BSF officers mentioned operational methods to cope with unlawful infiltration and smuggling, and held coordination conferences with West Bengal authorities officers and the folks of border villages.
Of India’s 4,096 km-long border with Bangladesh, 2,216 km lies alongside West Bengal, which is guarded by three frontiers of the BSF. Trade, not solely at Petrapole however at land customized stations in Ghojadanga, Mahadipur, and Fulbari in West Bengal, has been affected due to the continued state of affairs. There has been some passenger motion, significantly alongside the ICP, which incorporates each folks returning to India and crossing over to Bangladesh.
Some of the passengers narrated their ordeal of how the state of affairs had spiralled uncontrolled prior to now few days. Ujjal Saha, secretary of the West Bengal Exporters Coordination Committee, stated commerce by means of land ports within the State has been hit due to non-clearance of products by Bangladesh customs, which has resulted in a whole bunch of vehicles being lined up in parking heaps.
Trade alongside these land ports has been irregular because the protests started in Bangladesh. The developments within the neighbouring nation not solely pose a safety problem but additionally a problem for Indian exporters.
Arun Kumar Garodia, chairperson of the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India stated that the political developments in Bangladesh have been a big concern for Indian engineering exporters.
“As one of the top destinations for Indian engineering products and our largest trading partner in South Asia, stability in Bangladesh is crucial for maintaining and expanding trade relations,” Mr. Garodia stated.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Monday (August 6, 2024) appealed to the folks of the State to keep up peace and keep away from provocation. She had urged leaders of political events to chorus from posting messages that would incite communal passions on social media.