Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will not go to farmers' cowsheds in the border areas to check whether the cows belong to Bangladesh or India, Home Minister Asdauzzaman Khan Kamal said.
"No BGB member will go checking anyone's homestead for cows anymore," Kamal said at a discussion to prevent drug trading and human trafficking with law enforcement officials and lawmakers of the border areas, held at BGB headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday.
The minister: “Sometimes BGB members, out of over-enthusiasm, carry out search at locals’ homes and cowsheds, and to stop this, we have given orders not to do such things from now on.”
On February 12, a clash broke out between BGB members and villagers of Baharampur in Thakurgaon’s Haripur upazila over alleged cattle smuggling. The incident left three people including a teenager dead and several others injured.
Replying to a query about probing the brawl, the minister said: “Several committees were formed to investigate the incident. Even the BGB itself is probing the matter, regarding which a case was filed too.”
“We have received some reports of the investigation, with some being due. We will take necessary action after all the reports are submitted,” Kamal said.
Some lawmakers at the discussion, proposed to reduce the range BGB’s border patrolling, which is five kilometres at the moment.
In reply the home minister said: “BGB works in line with the international convention, but the proposal can still be reviewed.”
Asked about reasons behind increased border killings, he said: "Some over enthusiastic people are crossing the border, leading to incidents of shooting, causing deaths. We are working into it.”
According to Kamal, thermal sensor surveillance systems are being installed along the borders at Teknaf and some parts of Jessore, to stop intrusion and smuggling of drugs, arms and cattle.
"We are currently working on expanding the system to cover all border areas," he said.
While mentioning the change in the trend of smuggling along the border area, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Patwary urged lawmakers and officials at the administration to let them know if any policeman is linked to drug smuggling.
“We will take action upon receiving complaints,” he said, hoping that joint border patrolling by the BGB, police and coast guards will help improve the situation on the bordering areas.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder proposed constructing roads on the borders and facilitate lighting there. He also recommended upgrading the life standard of the BGB personnel working in the bordering areas.
The event was attended by ministers and MPs from 32 bordering districts, director generals of BGB, RAB and Department of Narcotics Control, divisional and deputy commissioners along with other several high up officials.
