The High Court has put forward four recommendations to the National Parliament aimed at bolstering the border security of Bangladesh, reducing inter-state border crime to zero, and preventing national revenue evasion
These recommendations include designating the land within 10 miles of the border as Border Guard Bangladesh’s (BGB) property and keeping the area within 8km of the border completely clear and flat.
These recommendations were articulated in a judgment acquitting Zakir Hossain, who had been sentenced to three years in prison in connection with the recovery of Indian sarees at the Jessore border during an anti-smuggling operation in 1987.
The verdict, delivered on August 3 last year by Justice Md Ashraful Kamal's bench, was released in an 11-page document on Saturday.
The recommendations for the National Parliament are as follows:
Declaration of BGB property: The area up to 10 miles inside Bangladesh from the border should be declared as the property of the BGB.
Compensation: Private property owners affected by this declaration should be compensated by assessing the loss and allocating government property of equal value in their name.
Maintaining visibility: The land up to 8km from the borderline should be kept completely empty and flat, ensuring that every inch of this land is clearly visible from a distance of 8km.
BGB activity zone: The area between 8-10 km from the border should be reserved for all activities of BGB, including training.
The High Court has directed the Registrar General of the Supreme Court to send copies of the judgment and orders via email to lower court judges, the Director General of BGB, the Home Ministry Secretary, and Members of Parliament to ensure that these recommendations are considered and potentially implemented.