From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : In view of the Assam assembly elections, the ruling BJP government led by the Centre’s Narendra Modi government and Assam’s Sarbananda Sonowal issued an order that the Indo-Bangladesh border would be sealed through smart fencing. Let’s say smart fencing will include advanced monitoring systems and alarm gadgets. The smart fencing will be used to seal the unfiltered portion of the international border between India and Bangladesh in Karimganj town of Assam. By issuing the order, the Modi government has taken steps to fulfil a major election promise of the party within just a week of BJP coming to power in Assam.
The BJP had promised that the border of Assam with Bangladesh would be sealed to rein in illegal infiltration from the neighbouring country when it came to power. An official from the Home Ministry said, the Home Minister directed that the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam be completely sealed. The Home Minister also directed that technology should be fully utilised for the security of sensitive areas along the border. This will include high resolution cameras, radars, UG sensors, optical fibres, infra red sensors, airstats, etc., and will have to be connected with command and control arrangements. The total length of Indo-Bangladesh border is 4,096 kms, out of which 284 kms is in Assam. “To meet the objective of sealing the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam, it was decided that structural barriers, such as fencing, would be imposed at 100 locations in the 11.9 km area, such as fencing and non-structural barriers at 22 locations in the 48.8 km area of small rivers, including technological barriers, will be prepared by June 2021, the official said. For information, 4.5 km of Indo-Bangladesh border in Karimganj city will be sealed through smart fencing. In particular, border guards Bangladesh objected to the physical fencing of the Indo-Bangladesh border in Karimganj city. As per international border rules, fencing on both sides of the border should be 150 yards from the main point. However, a part of Karimganj city will end on the other side of the fence. It is said that this will happen if the physical limit is being erected as per international border rules.
The Assam government had sought relaxation in international border rules to save part of Karimganj city. However, border guards Bangladesh showed no interest in relaxing international border rules. Therefore, the Assam Home Department has come up with an alternative option to seal that part of the border through smart fencing. However, the BORDER Security Force, BSF, And border guards Bangladesh both agree to protect the countries together. It is mentioned here that in the last 5 years, the central government and the ruling BJP government led by Sarbananda Sonowal of Assam have not taken any steps to seal the Indo-Bangladesh border. Now, six years later, the Modi government has taken steps to fulfil a major election promise of the party within a week of the BJP coming to power in Assam. Before the Assam assembly elections in 2016, the BJP had promised that the Border of Assam with Bangladesh would be sealed to rein in illegal infiltration from the neighbouring country when it came to power. Now the election is coming up, that is why the government has taken this step to convince the people. However, there are 122 places (60.7 km) in Assam where no physical barrier has been erected.
