Union home ministry sets up five-member panel to monitor situation at India-Bangladesh borders

Union government set up a committee to monitor situation along Indo-Bangla border which will be headed by ADG, BSF, Eastern Command

Home Minister Amit Shah Photo | Express

NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a committee led by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in the wake of the ongoing situation in the neighbouring country.

In the wake of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Modi government has constituted a committee to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB). The committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 9, 2024

Announcing the decision, Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, in a post on the micro-blogging site ‘X’, said, “In the wake of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Modi government has constituted a committee to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB).”

The Minister went on to add that the committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minority communities living there.

Other members of the committee include IG, BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, IG, BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, Member (Planning and Development), and Secretary, Land Port Authority of India (LPAI).

It is to be noted that the MHA took the decision following an intelligence report suggesting that amid fear of attacks, large groups of Hindus have moved towards the Indian border and may attempt to enter the country.

Meanwhile, sources in the BSF told TNIE that personnel deployed at the eastern frontiers have been instructed to connect with locals residing in adjacent border areas and alert them. Troops have also been advised to maintain contact with local village leaders.

“We are sending our officials to a few villages near the border. We have instructed them to report if anyone tries to enter India illegally. Local leaders have been asked to alert officials so that the force can take swift action,” a senior BSF officer said.

The sources further said that intelligence inputs have indicated that the period starting from August 15 could be critical. The inputs also suggested that cattle smuggling might increase as miscreants could exploit the situation, assuming the force is occupied with other security concerns, they added.

An interim Bangladesh government under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus was sworn in on August 8, a couple of days after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country after growing unrest demanding her ouster.