Bangladesh border: Centre and state fail to address compensation and land issues for relocation of villagers

Zero-Point, India-Bangladesh border: At a time when the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between India and Bangladesh is being touted as a major achievement for the Narendra Modi government, the security forces are grappling with the issue of villagers living along the border beyond the barbed wire fencing.

This is the biggest threat in the area and the villagers are in danger as well during firing from either side, officials said. Nearly 89,000 people live in 249 villages along the 4,096 km border outside the fencing manned by the Border Security Force.

The barbed wire fencing was erected by the government to prevent infiltration and check transborder movement of militants.

As per international norms, the barbed wire fencing has to be built 150 yards inside India from the zero line of the border. “This is one of the biggest challenges for us as all those staying ahead of fencing are Indians.

We have also submitted a proposal to the Union home ministry to shift these villagers inside the fencing,” said IG BSF (South Bengal Frontier) Sandeep Salunke.

However, the proposal has been stuck for long between the Centre and state government as West Bengal will be required to relocate the villagers and provide adequate compensation.

Another option, according to officials, is to erect fences on the zero line, a proposal given by India to Bangladesh but one that has not been implemented all along the border.

BSF has for the time being made arrangements for the villagers to cross the fences through metallic doors where they are frisked and asked about their identities.

“At times, we feel humiliated as if we are not from this country. Every time, we want to go to the market or visit our relatives in a nearby village, we had to go through this humiliation,” said Mohd Aslam, one of the residents in a village at Zero point, from where the international boundary between India and Bangladesh starts.

The best option is to shift the villagers inside the fencing, BSF officials said.