Bangladesh will fence off some border patches with barbed wire to secure Border Outposts and frontiers with neighbouring India and Myanmar, officials said, apparently following some recent developments.
To this effect, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved Tuesday a scheme styled Border Fencing Project, along with 14 other projects, involving an aggregate cost of Tk 179.87 billion.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the ECNEC meeting in Dhaka.
Under the Tk 1.58-billion 'Construction of Barbed-wire Fences for the BGB in Different BoP Areas Across the Border (1st phase) project', the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) will construct nearly 249,071 running metres of fences in 587 BOP areas and adjacent borders with India and Myanmar.
Government officials said the barbed-wire fences are meant for checking smuggling in drugs, gold, arms and other products, and illegal entry of people and ensuring security of the border outposts.
The BGB has selected 587 BoP areas on the frontiers with Myanmar and India to build the fences by June 2020, they said.
According to the border guards, the force has already erected barbed-wire fences in 267 BoP areas out of Bangladesh's total 845 BoPs along the borders with India and Myanmar.
"Bangladesh's border is very vulnerable as entry of illegal migrants, smugglers and goods is almost a daily phenomenon for a lack of secure frontiers. Recent influx of Myanmar's citizens called Rohingya has again proved Bangladesh's border highly vulnerable," says an observer.
Emerging from the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters that a total of 15 projects were approved Tuesday with a cost of Tk 179.87 billion.
"Out of the total project cost, Tk 119.40 billion will come from government exchequer, Tk 5.23 billion from the implementing agencies' own funds while the rest Tk 55.23 billion from donors as project assistance," he said.
Of the approved 15 projects, 13 are new while two revised.
The ECNEC also approved Conversion of Parbatipur-Kaunia meter-gauge (MG) railway line to dual-gauge (DG) at Tk 16.83 billion. The lion's share of the project cost (Tk 13.67 billion) will come from the Indian Line of Credit (LoC).
The railway will not only set up cross-border communications but also help enhance Trans-Asian transportation system.
In also approved 'Development of Bangladesh's Insurance Sector project' involving Tk 6.32 billion for strengthening the country's insurance system. Besides, the ECNEC approved the Eastern Zone Grid Network Extension and Capacity Strengthening Project at Tk 36.42 billion.
The other projects approved at the ECNEC meeting are: Land acquisition, development and protection for Patuakhali 1320MW super-thermal power plant at Tk 8.19 billion, Farmers' training for transferring technology to upazila level (3rd phase) project at Tk 3.14 billion, Nutrition development through round the year production of fruits (1st revised) at Tk 2.99 billion, Small irrigation development and irrigation capacity strengthening through preserving surface water in Rangpur region at Tk 1.41 billion.
Besides, it approved Rehabilitation of affected rural roads damaged by floods and disasters project at Tk 27.85 billion, Ensuring environmental sanitation including water supply and human waste management in 32 pourashavas at Tk 7.12 billion, Development of road infrastructures and drainage system in Nasirabad, Dakshingao, Demra and Manda areas under Dhaka South City Corporation at Tk 4.76 billion, Kalukhali- Bhatiapara section rehabilitation and construction of new railway track on Kashiani-Gopalganj-Tungipara route (2nd revised) at Tk 21.10 billion, Upgrading district highways to due standard and width (Barisal Zone) at Tk 6.67 billion, Jamalpur-Chechua-Muktagachha Highway widening and strengthening (including Brahmaputra bridge approach) at Tk 4.60 billion, and Establishment of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Gazipur project at Tk 9.24 billion.
Ministries, Members of the Planning Commission and other high officials were present at the meeting.
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