High officials of Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) today has said the joint exercise of the two neighbouring forces would reduce cross border crimes.
They came up with the opinion at the BSF-sponsored press briefing held on the zero line near Chengrabandha BSF camp inside India, opposite Burimari Border Outpost (BOP) of BGB under Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat district.
The event was arranged after conclusion of the two-day joint exercise titled 'Dharla Maitri' conducted by BGB and BSF alongside the Chengrabandha-Burimari borders to inform its outcomes to the Indian and Bangladeshi journalists.
On behalf of BGB, Rangpur Sector Commander Colonel Md Abul Kalam Azad and its Director (Operations) of the North West Region Lieutenant Colonel Md Hassan Morshed addressed the event and answered questions asked by journalists.
Similarly, Jalpaiguri Sector Commander and DIG of BSF Bishan Singh Patiyal and Nodal Officer of the North Bengal Frontier George Manjuran addressed the occasion and answered questions.
Patiyal said the joint exercise was conducted fruitfully by the two border guards along the Chengrabandha-Burimari borders for the third time of its kind following the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP).
"During the joint exercise, the border guarding forces conducted long patrolling for boundary pillar checking, arranged flag meeting for mutual understanding and sharing of information at ground levels to prevent trans-border crimes," he said.
Besides, the border guards conducted checking of import-export goods at Chengrabandha and Burimari Immigration Check Posts under the joint exercise programmes to ensure smooth business, customs and immigration activities there, he added.
He said the joint exercise would continue by the two border guarding forces in future to prevent cross border criminal activities, irregular movements and incidents of violence along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Colonel Azad said the joint exercise was conducted aiming at building confidence of the two border guards for better coordination to improve border management for reducing border crimes and maintaining peace along the borders.
"The joint exercise has enabled both border guards to sort out problems and challenges prevailing at the porous border points and share information for better managements and peaceful coexistence along the international borders," he said.
The exercise also helped both the forces to evolve suitable way for thinning up chaos and confusion during any odd situation and accelerated the operational and communicational efficiencies among the two border forces, Azad added.
