Erection of Barbed Wire Fence Along Borders
India is pursuing an ambitious and higly expensive programme for erection of barbed wire fence along the Indian border with Bangladesh. It is amazing that India has embarked upon the programme at a time when the trends all over the world are to remove physical barriers between nations and the people. The removal of infamous Berlin Wall is an example of same phenomenon. The walls, fences and other physical barriers are constructed to protect a country against external threat. Question arises as to what threat Bangladesh poses to India's security? Obviously there is no threat to India from Bangladesh. Then why India is implementing the programme despite very high costs?
The usual explanation given by Indian authorities is that they want to seal India's borders with Bangladesh in order to check illegal infiltration. However, their real aim is indeed sinister. The Indians want to convert the borders into a one way valve whose control will be with them. This will enable them to pursue their various nefarious designs against Bangladesh with ease including 'push back', launching of terrorists, saboteurs, spies, organising one way smuggling and drug trafficking etc.
The erection of wire fence is being undertaken in a phased but rapid programme. Work is already in progress in various sectors of Indo-Bangladesh border. Reporting about progress of the work in Dinajpur, Thakargaon and panchagarh areas, Daily Janakantha wrote: "Day and night work is going on to build metalled roads along the border.
Similarly erection of wire fence is also being undertaken at rapid speed. Already 507 kilometre long fence has been erected. Moreover Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has instructed the farmers who have lands along the border not to cultivate crops which grow tall enough to obstruct observation. The expenditure on construction of the roads and erection of fence is estimated to be Rs 468 crores(Janakantha : May 1, 1994).The Daily Sangram reported in its issue of July 27, 1995, "Fence is being erected in three rows from Sona Moque topposite Chakpara) to Karimganj-Kaliganj area. Besides, observation towers and metalled road have also been constructed withhin 200 yards of the border."
The Daily Al Mujadded reported, "The barbed wire fence in Jibannagar sector of Chuadanga District has three rows. The first row is 9 feet high fenc,e mounted on angle iron pickets. The middle row is 4 feet high straight fence and the last row is 6 feet high coil fence. The centre row is electrified. The rows are 3 feet apart from each other. A 20 feet wide metalled road has been constructed at a distance of 10 feet from the fence. Steel gates have been fixed in the fence at each 2 kilometre distance"(Al mujadded : May 14, 1995)."Along Indo-Bangladesh border in Satkhira sector, India has constructed barbed wire fence all along the border. The fence has three rows. The middle row shall be later electrified. Observation towers are being built at close intervals(Mujadded : April 10,
1995)."India has also erected barbed wire fence at Garo Hills area, Sylhet-Maulvi Bazar border and along border of Tripura state(Daily Janata : May 12, 1995).
Erection of fence along the border is part of a bigger consipiracy by RAw to cripple Bangladesh. There are repotts that after construction of barbed wire fence, push back operations will be undertaken with maximum vigour as RAW believes that after erection of fence, it will be impossible for p.eople pushed into Bangladesh to return. Similarly there will be tremendous increase in infiltration of Indian agents and smuggling of all types 'of goods including drugs into Bangladesh.
Illegal Occupation of Bangladeshi Land
India has illegally occupied Bangladeshi land in many border areas. No where in the world a country occupied a neighbouring country's land the way India has Bangladesh's land. India is determined to perpetuate her illegal possession of such land. That is why in the past 23 years of Pakistan and in another 24 years of Bangladesh,India never seriously sat down to solve the border issues.At many places she did not even give areas allotted to Bangladesh by Radcliffe Award. India has been persistently refusing to undertake joint survey and demarcation of borders. In many border areas Indians evenremoved old border pillars and encroached upon Bangladeshi territory. In areas where middle stream of the river is recognised as the border, India diverted the river course towards Bangladesh territory and grabbed Bangladeshi area. The illegal occupation of Bangladesh's land by India has taken place at over one hundred places. However, due to paucity of space, here I whould' give details of only a few cases to inform my readers about Indian manipulation and tactics in this regard.
"India is in adverse occupation of 200 acres of Bangladeshi land at 'Berubari sector in the district of Jalpaiguri. A survey team consisting of members from both countries visited the area in 1991. Sensing that solution to the problem may be found by the team, RAW decided to put hurdles in the way of the team. It manipulated sentiments of the people in Indian area by spreading rum our that if the team is allowed to work the area would go to Bangladesh creating problems for the people of the locality. Some political parties of India including BJP and Forward Block were instigated to launch movement against survey work at Berubari area and the possible handing over of some land to Bangladesh.
That forced the survey team to abandon its work and leave the locality without accomplishing its task(Daily Bhorer Kagaz : November 11, 1994).
The Daily Sangram reported, "Due to India's obstinacy and hegemonism two border points in the areas of Rajshahi District have remained unsettled for a very long period.
These two areas are Chandansahar of Charghat Police Station and the other is the Nirmalchar of Godagari Police Station. Although these areas are rightly in Bangladesh, yet the Indian BSF has always been putting pressure to forcibly occupy them. In October 1992, the Indian BSF supported some India citizen to attack Bangladeshi farmers working in Nirmalchar area. At one stage BSF forcibly occupied the area and dug some bunkers as well. However, on being approached by BDR they left the area. But the
Indians have not yet agreed to conduct a joint surveyw settle the issue for good. A source maintains that the Indians intend to forcibly occupy the area(Sangram : March 25, 1994).
"The Indians claim that since Padma River is the border line, therefor, Chandansahar shore belongs to them. However, they forget that in this region the river course keeps on changing. It does not mean that border line will also change. Decision about the ownership of shore should be made based on old records of river course in 1947. India, however, is not ready to accpet it. Bangladesh Government sources stated that the Indians have been requested time and again to settle the matter but they did not respond at all. As a result the Bangladeshis living in the area are under constant threat of intimidation and fear from the Indians(Daily Sangram : March 20, 1994).
"In the Thakargaon border area, the Indians have been trying to forcibly take away 90 acres of land from Bangladesh. In January, 1994, some Indians entered into the area and started preparing a tea garden there.Although BDR and BSF jointly settled the matter, the Indian farmers once again on 2 February, 1994 entered the area and started work for the same end. This time the Indians supported by BSF, managed to make a tea garden over an area of one acre of land(Daily BangIa Bazar Patrika : February 20, 1994).
The Daily Ittefaq reported, "Of the 180 miles border with India in the District of Panchagarh, 18 miles are demarcated by river. The river course has been closing in towards Bangladesh every year due to floods and picking up of stones by labourers by breaking the river banks.This has resulted in creation of new shore. India has occupied newly formed shore though these do not fall into her territory. When contacted, the relevant department of Bangladesh Government informed that the Indians do not turn up on the appointed day and time for deciding such border demarcation issue. They keep on dragging these cases. Knowledgeable sources maintain that motivated by their evil intention to keep Bangladesh's land under illegal occupation, they do not send their survey team to settle these matters(Daily Ittefaq : Sepember 19, 1994).
"On December 19, 1993, the Indian BSF personnel forcibly occupied 20 square kilometre of Bangladesh's land adjacent to the Sunderbans of the Kaikhali and Ramjan Nagar Unions located at the end of Satkhira District. They sank down more than 100 boats of Bangladesh, kidnapped some fishermen and threatened the others not to re-enter into the 10cality(Inqilab, December 27, 1993). "India has kept under forcible illegal occupation 1500 acres 'of land at the Taindong and Asalong villages of Matiranga Police Station in the Khagrachari Hill District.
In 1986-87, people of these villages, after being attacked by Shanti Bahini guerillas, left the area due to lack of security. The BSF occuppied the said area comprising of 1500 acres. BSF has set up two camps in the said land. They have also constructed metalled road and erected electric lines. When in May 1995, the Indian farnlers, on being prompted by BSF, started cultivating the said land the Bangladeshi farmers objected.
However, BSF still continues to occupy the said land(Daily Janakantha, May 25 1995).The Daily AI Mujadded reported, "India has forcibly occupied 2300 acres of land along he greater Kushtia border area. It is located between pillar No. 126-127, pillar No.
132-133 at the Kathuli border, in the Isakhali border from pillar No. 122-15 to 122-65, and of Kushtia District at pillar No. 153-25 to 154-45. Besides, 300 Bigha of Bangladeshi land is under forcible occupation of India, between main pillar No 80 and 82 at the Baradi border of Damorhuda Police Station and between pillar 89 and 91 in Jhakurpur border of District Chuadanga(Mujadded : June 14, 1995)."
A Media Syndicate report published in The Daily New Nation stated, "India has occupied 2000 square miles of Bangladesh's territory by constructing dams, barrages and other structures on rivers entering Bangladesh. India has constructed 25 dams and 40 structures on 25 rivers. These structures have caused loss of water in rivers. By putting up pillars and fences in dry areas India is claiming sovereignty, over 2,000 square miles of land that belongs to Bangladesh(New Nation: October 1, 1995).
South Talpatti Island
A glaring example of India's forcible occupation of Bangladeshi land is the case of South Talpatti Island. The Island is located at a distance of 6000 metre from the mainland shore of Bangladesh as measured by aerial survey obtained from remotely sensed imageries.
The Chandbaria range of Bangladesh's Forest Department in the District of Satkhira is the nearest landmass of Bangladesh. The border in this region is based on River Hariabhanga whose main course lies in the west of the Island. Thus the Island forms an integral part of Bangladesh. The Radcliffe Award had fixed mid river course as the border between India and the then East Pakistan. The same formula was inherited by Bangladesh. Based on the said principle, the ownership of South Talpatti Island should lie with Bangladesh. In a survey map made in 1967 by Survey of Pakistan, the Island was shown in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The Survey of Bangladesh map issued in'1972 had also shown the Island as part of Bangladesh. But India is not prepared to accept the said reality. On May 9, 1981, India landed her armed forces on South Talpatti Island with the support of three warships of Indian Navy. Since then India is maintaining her illegal occupation of the Island. Bangladesh has sent many proposals to India to settle the ownership issue of the Island. Bangladesh also proposed a joint or international survey. But India does not agr~e to hold any survey work. They know that such work will establish that the Island belongs to Bangladesh. Disregarding all principles, India has resorted to the jungle rule of 'might is right'.
Establishment of Bangladesh's right over the South Talpatti Island will add 25,000 square kilometers area to Bangladesh. Besides, the naval and strategic importance of this Island to Bangladesh is enormous. The shallow sea shore and beach around this Island can be developed for tourism purposes. Moreover geological surveys have indicated deposits of huge minerals like iron ore, Manganese, Aluminium etc. in the off shore of the Island.
Motivated by her desire to grab rich resources of the Island and also in pursuance of her evil design to re-establish Akhand Bharat, India has kept her illegal hold on the Island. It is well known that Bangladeshi fishermen were the first to reach the Island. They had established fishing camp on the Island in the past. In 1974 S:neikh Mujibur Rehman gave permission t.o six foreign companies for oil exploration in the area. These companies
carried out exploratory work in the off shore of Bay of Bengal. Indians raised their claim only after 1974. Question arises that if the Island was India's territory, why did not she claim it before 1974. It may also be noted that India established her possession of the Island only in 1981.
India is gradually consolidating its hold over the Island. In this regard the Daily Meillat reported, "India has strengthened her armed position on the Island. India is already negotiating with foreign companies to grant them right for oil and gas exploration around the South Talpatti Island. The concerned Indian Ministry has already invited tenders for the work."The issue of unsettled border lines between Bangladesh and India is indeed a major reason for constant trouble and souring of relations between the two countries. In 1974, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Mrs Indira Gandhi had signed a treaty for solving the unsettled border issues. The treaty signed on the May 16, 1974, was published in the Bangladesh Gazette on the November 28, of the same year. The border treaty was later incorporated into the 3rd amendment of our constitution. In this treaty it is stated that all survey works would be finished by December 31, 1974 by both countries. It was also provided in the treaty that the map (new) would be prepared by May 21, 1975 and a jointly approved map will be published by December 31, 1975. Details of disputed border lines were also mentioned in the treaty signed by both parties. After signing the treaty, the survey work began in some areas. But after Sheikh Mujib was killed on August 15, 1975, the Indian Government started to show unwillingnes to make any further progress in the matter on flimsy grounds"(Mujadded : June 14, 1995).
According to international law India is bound to obey the terms of the treaty, notwithstanding change of the' Government in Bangladesh. But India is refusing to honour the treaty. She has also been flouting the terms of the treaty and is constantly endeavouring to grab Bangladesh's land illegally and unlawfully through the use of sheer force.
Late President Ziaur Rahman had adopted a bold stance on the issue of Talpatti Island.
He also pursued diplomatic offensive in the matter. But the subsequent Governments of Bangladesh failed to do anything like that. Analysts believe that the RAW's hold on the subsequent Governments of Bangladesh has increased with the result that national interests and sovereignty no more take first preference. That is the reason that Talpatti Island and many other lands in border areas remain under illegal Indian occupation.
Despite Bangladesh's gesture of giving two square miles of area of Berubari in exchange for Tin Bigha, Indians have failed so far to show any accommodation on the issue.
Observers believe that RAW is a major player behind the scene which has been persuading Indian Government not to make any settlement of border lines and Talpatti Island issue etc. RAW is waging a war of attrition against Bangladesh and wants to use every possible mean to cause suffering and loss to Bangladesh. RAW's aim is to demoralize and pressurize Bangladesh through every conceivable way so that realization of their end game is facilitated.