Fencing Questions: Bangladesh Summons Indian Envoy Over Border Tensions

Dhaka: Bangladesh’s Foreign ministry on Sunday summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to discuss escalating tensions along the India-Bangladesh border.

Dhaka recently alleged that India was trying to construct fences at five locations along the border, in violation of a bilateral agreement.

The Indian envoy, who was seen entering the Foreign ministry office around 3 pm, had a 45-minute meeting with Foreign secretary Mohammad Jashim Uddin.

“We have understanding with regard to fencing the border for security. Our two border guard enforcements BSF and BGB have been in communication in this regard. We expect the understandings will be implemented and that cooperative approach be taken to combating crime,” Verma said after the meeting, jagonews24.com reported.

The envoy added that he and the Foreign secretary also discussed Indian commitment to ending crimes along the border by addressing the challenges of smuggling, movements of criminal and trafficking.

The last time Bangladesh summoned the Indian high commissioner was on December 3, following an attack on the assistant high commission of Bangladesh in Agartala.