Sarker Shariful Islam, Rajshahi
BSF authorities have sought five-day more time to remove frontier structures (Watch-towers, or Simanto Chowki) set along the zero point of Bangladesh-India border at various places near Rajshahi district. At a flag meeting held on Tuesday morning, the BSF sought a five-day time to remove the structures (chowki) from the zero point including at the Shaheb Nagar frontier.
Commander of BGB-1 Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Ferdous Ziauddin Mahmud informed, A Company Commander level meeting of BGB and BSF was held at Shaheb Nagar frontier where, after identifying and marking the line of control, it was found the BSF structures were set up inside the zero point. He further mentioned, The zero point runs through the middle of the river where char has been emerged.
BSF entered some 70-metres inside the zero point and set the temporary structures ( watch-towers or Chowki). The BGB expressed their concern at the installation of such structures inside the zero point but BSF authorities said the installation was a temporary one. However, BGB asked BSF to remove the structures because it was beyond any norms according to the rule, none of the forces can set up any structure within 150-metre area of the common border. BSF, however, sought five-day time to remove the structures.
BGB and local people informed recently a small char has been emerged at the west side of the river in Bangladeshi frontier along the zero point. Even, the BGB members were patrolling the bordering char land because it was attached to Bangladeshi land mass.
It is learnt, on Friday last BSF members set up a temporary watch towe r( chowki) with bamboo and jute-sticks and BSF members of Char Labongola outpost started to stay at the chowki and patrol the area from Saturday last. However, on Sunday morning and at the night BGB members requested the BSF to leave the chowki when BSF members went away but they tried to return to the char through boat at night once again. As a result, BGB members went to the char and started to stay at the char. At the dead night, BSF members once again went to the temporary chowki and stayed there at night but went away in the morning watching the BGB members to approach there.
