India summons Bangladesh envoy over border fencing

This comes a day after Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma was called in by the neighbouring country's Foreign Ministry to express its "deep concern" over "activities" of Border Security Force

New Delhi: India on Monday summoned Bangladesh‘s acting High Commissioner Nural Islam and conveyed to him that New Delhi has followed all laid down protocols in the construction of fencing along the border between the two neighbours.

India’s action came a day after Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma was called in by the neighbouring country’s Foreign Ministry to express its “deep concern” over the “activities” of the Border Security Force.

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was conveyed to Islam that India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments on the security measures at the border and it expects that all earlier understandings will be implemented by Bangladesh along with a cooperative approach to combating cross-border crimes.

“The Bangladesh acting high commissioner to India, Md. Nural Islam was summoned by MEA to the South Block today at 2 pm,” an official readout said.

“It was conveyed that with regard to security measures at the border, including on fencing, India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments and between the Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh,” the MEA said in the readout.

It said India reiterated its commitment to ensuring a crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking.

“Barbed wire fencing, border lighting, installation of technical devices and cattle fences are measures for securing the border,” it said.

“India conveyed its expectation that all earlier understandings will be implemented by Bangladesh and that there will be a cooperative approach to combating cross-border crimes,” the MEA added.