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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on February 03 20205

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Why is there a row over border fencing?

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS II - International relations

Context:

In January, India and Bangladesh exchanged words over security measures at the border, including issues around fencing, with both countries summoning diplomats and sending a message about protocols and past agreements

Read about:

India - Bangladesh history

India- Bangladesh border dispute

Key takeaways:

India's longest international border is with Bangladesh, stretching 4,096 km. Since the political transition in Bangladesh last August, tensions have arisen in multiple areas concerning border fencing. While Bangladeshi officials claim that disputes have emerged at five locations due to the fencing, the Indian government has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a secure and crime-free border.

Extent of Border Fencing

• According to the Ministry of Home Affairs' 2023-24 annual report, approximately 78% of the 4,096.7 km India-Bangladesh border—equivalent to 3,196.705 km—has been fenced.
• This border runs through five Indian states: Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and West Bengal, and is monitored by six divisions of the Border Security Force (BSF): Assam Frontier, Meghalaya Frontier, Mizoram and Cachar Frontier, Tripura Frontier, North Bengal Frontier, and South Bengal Frontier.
• Fencing coverage varies across different frontiers. While certain areas have over 80% of the border secured, others have less than 50% fenced. For instance, in the Meghalaya Frontier, 367 km (82.8%) of its 443 km border is fenced.
• In contrast, the South Bengal Frontier, which covers 913 km from the Sundarbans to Malda in West Bengal, has fencing along only 405 km (44%). This variation is due to geographical constraints and settlements located close to the border.
• A significant challenge is the riverine terrain—out of the 913 km in the South Bengal Frontier, 364 km runs along rivers such as Ichamati and Padma, forming natural boundaries between the two nations.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs acknowledges that certain stretches of the border present difficulties in constructing fences. Factors such as rivers, silt islands (chars), and local opposition to fencing—due to concerns over restricted land access—contribute to the delays.

Regulations Governing Border Fencing

• The 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities specify that once the boundary line, whether officially demarcated or temporary, is established, neither country shall deploy security forces or armed personnel within 150 yards of it. Furthermore, permanent posts cannot be built until final demarcation is settled.
• In cases where local populations reside close to the border and fencing within 150 yards is necessary, both governments must reach a mutual agreement. However, recent disagreements have surfaced, with the BSF stating that its Bangladeshi counterpart, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), has not honored prior agreements regarding fence construction.
• Despite certain stretches lacking fencing, BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary has emphasized that this does not automatically lead to increased infil