Bangladesh Border Guard Chief dismisses reports of minority attacks as exaggerated

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has rejected claims of recent attacks on minorities in the country, calling them exaggerated.

The statement was made by BGB Chief Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui during a high-level meeting with India’s Border Security Force (BSF), where both sides discussed various border-related issues.

Speaking about concerns over minority safety, Siddiqui stated that reports of violence were overstated. “The news of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh has been exaggerated. During Durga Puja, we provided security to puja pandals within 8 kilometers of the international border, and the celebrations took place peacefully,” he said, reported The Hindu.

One of the key points of discussion during the meeting was the ongoing border fencing issue. Siddiqui emphasised that neither country is permitted to construct permanent structures within 150 yards of the border, as per existing agreements.

He highlighted the communication challenges that arise due to fencing within this restricted zone and urged that mutual discussions be held before proceeding with any construction. “Bangladesh has raised objections and stressed the need for proper consultation. We hope to resolve this in the future so that construction can take place in the no-man’s land,” he added.

Addressing speculation about modifications to the 1975 border alignment clause, Siddiqui clarified that no changes were discussed in the meeting. “The issue of how far the fence should be from the zero line has always been part of our discussions. We have requested joint inspections at disputed locations,” he stated.

The meeting, part of ongoing efforts to enhance coordination between border forces, followed a similar conference held in Dhaka in March last year. The BSF had previously noted that the discussions aimed to address border security concerns and improve cooperation between the two nations.