Amid the turmoil in Bangladesh, a high alert has been declared in India’s bordering areas. The situation in Bangladesh has become increasingly volatile due to protests over a quota-related issue, prompting heightened security measures along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and reportedly fled to an undisclosed location. In Agartala, a top Border Security Force (BSF) officer confirmed that senior border-guarding officials and commandants have been deployed to the border to ensure tight vigilance.
Security arrangements have been strengthened by the BSF and police departments in Assam and Tripura. These measures focus on the Barak Valley region in Assam and the Tripura border, given the unrest in Bangladesh.
Assam shares a 265.5-kilometer border with Bangladesh, with 120.6 kilometers located in the Barak Valley, including Karimganj and Cachar. Tripura has an 856-kilometer border with Bangladesh.
BSF officials reported that approximately 4.5 kilometers of the international border in Assam remain unfenced, much of which comprises riverine areas. Despite improvements in security since the unrest began last month, measures have been further intensified.
“Tripura has increased security in response to the situation in Bangladesh. Today, patrolling and security in the border areas have been heightened,” a senior state police official was quoted by Hindustan Times (HT).
On August 2, Inspector General SK Misra of the BSF’s Mizoram and Cachar Frontier assessed the status of the unfenced areas along the Kushiyara River and other regions of Assam.
“We maintain 24/7 vigilance on the border, which has been reinforced multiple times. We will not allow any violence from Bangladesh to spill over into India through this border,” HT quoted an official.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Assam Police’s southern range, Kangkanjyoti Saikia, confirmed that adequate support is being provided to the security forces. “The BSF is implementing several measures, and we are providing support. No additional forces have been requested as the BSF and Assam police can handle the current situation,” he said.
There are nine Indian villages outside the fencing in Assam. “We are in regular contact with the residents of these villages, who have assured their support. We are also prepared to protect them if necessary,” another official reported.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim government in Dhaka led by Waker-Uz-Zaman, the BSF has placed all posts along the 4,096-kilometer border on high alert. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is closely monitoring the situation, and acting BSF Director General Daljit Chawdhary has reportedly traveled to Kolkata with senior officials to review border security.
BSF personnel have been instructed to monitor unauthorized entries from Bangladesh and prevent smugglers and terrorists from exploiting the situation.
The Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) includes 1,096 border outposts across West Bengal (2,216.7 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km), and Mizoram (318 km). The IBB’s challenging terrain includes hills, rivers, and valleys, requiring the BSF to maintain stringent surveillance against illegal activities and migration.