Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has strengthened patrols along the Tin Bigha Corridor border in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila after the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) attempted to install bamboo pillars in violation of international border laws, an effort that was later suspended following objections from BGB.
A flag meeting at the battalion commander level has been called to discuss the incident and determine further steps.
Commander of Rangpur Battalion (51 BGB) Lt Col Najiur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune on Saturday that BSF had attempted to install pillars in the border area in violation of international border laws. Following the incident, BGB immediately took a firm position, and BSF was forced to halt its activities due to strong protests. He said BGB, along with local residents, is maintaining maximum alertness in the area.
He added that patrols along the border have been intensified and that BGB will continue to play a “firm and professional role” in safeguarding Bangladesh’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon in the Kolsirmukh border area of Kuchlibari union in Patgram upazila, where BSF attempted to install bamboo pillars on the zero line. Following strong objections from BGB, the pillars were removed. The area is adjacent to the Tin Bigha Corridor in Ward-5 of Dahagram union.
According to BGB and local sources, members of the 174/Bhim BSF camp, accompanied by Indian Survey Department personnel, began installing approximately three-foot-high bamboo pillars around 50 yards inside Indian territory from the zero line near border pillar DAMP 7/30-S, within the operational area of Dahagram BOP under 51 BGB.
After the matter came to BGB’s attention, the Panbari Company Commander requested the 174/Bhim BSF Company Commander to remove the pillars. However, BSF officials said the installation was being carried out under higher directives and could not be removed without authorization.
Subsequently, 50–60 BSF personnel, along with survey officials, took position at the site and resumed installation attempts. A BGB patrol team from Dahagram BOP intervened, stopping the activity. BSF personnel reportedly attempted to continue despite the obstruction, raising tensions along the border.
BGB said patrols have been reinforced in Dahagram, Panbari and Angorpota areas. The pillar installation work has now been suspended, although survey measurement activities by the Indian side continued for some time.
Earlier, on May 18, BSF attempted to install 15 bamboo pillars 10–20 yards inside Indian territory from the zero line near pillar DAMP 6/16-S in the same border area. BSF personnel withdrew following BGB intervention.
Following Friday’s incident, additional forces were deployed on both sides of the border. Battalion commanders of BGB and BSF later held discussions via telecommunication. After the talks, BSF suspended its activities. BGB subsequently returned to normal positions.
In a press release, Rangpur BGB Battalion said a flag meeting at the battalion commander level has been proposed to discuss the matter in detail and decide further actions. The border situation is currently reported to be normal.
