While a political tussle is underway in Delhi over illegal immigrants the union ministry of home affairs (MHA) informed Parliament on Tuesday that nearly 75% of the India-Bangladesh border fencing has been completed. The ministry acknowledged areas where fencing is not feasible but confirmed that work continues.
“The total length of the India-Bangladesh border is 4096.7 km, out of which 3232.218 km has been covered with a fence. Construction of fencing is an important security measure for securing the border. Fencing helps in ensuring a crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking,” the MHA stated in a reply.
It has been conveyed to the government of Bangladesh that, with regard to security measures at the border, including for fencing, India observes all protocols and agreements between the two governments and between the Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh, the ministry said.
A length of 864.482 km of the India-Bangladesh border is yet to be fenced, which includes a length of 174.514 km of “non-feasible gap”, the statement added.
“The challenges faced in completing the feasible stretches of fencing projects relate to land acquisition, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) objections, limited working season and land slide/marshy land,” the MHA said.
