TDS Desk:

Indian foreign ministry on Monday summoned Bangladeshi Deputy High Commissioner Nurul Islam, a day after Dhaka summoned the top Indian diplomat to express concerns over India’s border fence construction activities violating agreement, ANI reported.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry had raised “deep concern” over the recent fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border and summoned the Indian High Commissioner to express its objections.

“Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md Jashim Uddin on Sunday expressed the deep concern of the Government of Bangladesh to the High Commissioner of India Pranay Verma at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the recent activities of the Border Security Force (BSF) of India along the Bangladesh-India Border,” Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

He stressed that such activities particularly the “unauthorized attempt” to construct barbed wire fencing and the related operational actions by BSF, “have caused tensions and disturbances along the border.”

Referring to the recent killing of a Bangladesh citizen at Sunamganj by BSF, the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary also expressed “deep concern and disappointment” over the alleged killing of a Bangladeshi citizen at Sunamganj.

In response, the Indian High Commissioner stressed a cooperative approach to combat crimes at the border and effectively address the challenges of smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking.

“I met foreign secretary to discuss India’s commitment to ensuring crime-free border, effectively addressing the challenges of smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking to have understanding with regards to fencing border for security”, envoy Pranay Verma told the reporters after meeting Bangladesh Foreign Secretary.

“Our two border guard forces, BSF and BGB have been in communication and understanding will be implemented and co-operative approach to combating crimes”, Verma added.