India, Myanmar’s support sought for poll-time border protection: BGB  

Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Shafeenul Islam said on Monday that Bangladesh has sought the support from India and Myanmar to protect the border during the upcoming national election as many BGB members will be on poll-duty.

"BGB will redesign its schedule in election time to ensure the security at border alongside the duty of election. Leave application during election will not be accepted from anyone of the BGB as their services will be required to ensure discipline during the election. Besides, routine training programmes will be organised before or after election," said BGB DG.

He was speaking at a press conference on the progress of BGB activities in border areas upon his return from a six-day conference held recently at the Chhawla Complex of BSF near Chhattarpur on the outskirts of the Indian capital.

A 14-member delegation, led by the BGB DG, and 20-member BSF team, led by its Director General KK Sharma, participated in the Bangladesh-India border talks.

BGB Director General claimed that this year only one Bangladeshi died on the Bangladesh-India border. "A fruitful discussion was held with Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to bring it down to zero," he added.

BGB Director General said additional surveillance will be ensured to prevent smuggling of weapons. An area of Jashore was announced as the crime-free zone while two places in Kurigram and Cumilla are kept under surveillance for declaration of crime-free areas.

He also said that no BGB member will go unpunished if they are involved in crimes on or off duty, reports UNB.