Bangladesh’s close neighbour India has decided to keep its border sealed for three days from January 4, a day ahead of the 10th national election scheduled for January 5.
India has also taken additional security measures to avert any negative impact on its state West Bengal, following the overheated political situation ahead of the elections, reports BBC Bangla.
The report quoted West Bengal Home Secretary, Vasudev Banarjee, saying the border would remain sealed until January 6.
The country’s Border Security Force (BSF) have been ordered increased vigilance over land and water boundaries, while police stations near the borders have been asked to be on high alert, the report said.
Earlier, Additional Director General (East) of BSF, BD Sharma said two additional battalions, around 2500 of BSF, have been deployed on the southern frontier alone.
Meanwhile, the BSF has been ordered to handle the situation humanely if the people of the Hindu community from Bangladesh try to enter Indian border in the face of violence.
The decision was taken on Tuesday following a meeting at state secretariat Nabanna in Howrah between the Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami and state Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra, Home Secretary Basudev Banerjee, ADG BSF BD Sharma and representatives of other security and intelligence agencies, says a report carried by The Statesman.
Petrapole in North 24-Parganas, Chengrabanda in Cooch Behar and Fulbari in Jalpaiguri are among the border transit points that West Bengal has with Bangladesh.
