When Bamboo Protects The India -Bangladesh Border

Agartala, Jan 16, 2025, Manas Pal320

In Tripura the bamboo is a very important commodity.  Make no mistake on that.  So to say, Bamboos are also our first line of defence. 

The photographs here show, or at least give you a hint, as to why the Indo-Bangladesh border remains perennially smuggling prone. You can very well also understand as to how both Bangladeshi and Indian smugglers and touts can carry out their illegal border trades and human trafficking with impunity.  These are parts of Latiapura BSF BOP and Magruli BOP – both under Irani Police Station in Kailasahar, Unakoti district as well as Samrupar BSF BOP under Sonamura Police Station in Sepahijala district of Tripura.

Having seen these photographs, if you so want, you may also paraphrase the typical British wits - ‘All mouth no trousers’ – as “All Fence Big Holes.

These areas have all along been smugglers’ haven.

It may be mentioned here that only on January 6 last a violent confrontation erupted near Pillar No. 47 of the Indo-Bangladesh international border in Maguruli, as BSF personnel were attacked by a group of Bangladeshi smugglers. In this particular incident in all intents and purposes the ‘border line simply withered away with both Border guards and Bangladeshis crossing the international demarcation at will and got engaged in physical skirmishes. Fortunately, the worst could somehow be averted as the BSF personnel were gheraoed by Bangladeshis and they tried to snatch their service weapons. The BSF had to open fire. Intriguing it may sound, the BSF did not come out with any statement on the incident till date, officially.

As for official statement, it is always said that most of the 856+ kms of India Bangladesh border has already been fenced by ‘impenetrable barbed wire fencing’ and works of unfenced small patches of-26. 64 kms are going on. But fact remains, the barbed wire fencings were no more ‘impenetrable’. Over the years they have in places got huge ‘holes’. Sometimes due to rusting and sometimes time induced damages entire patches of barbed wire fencing simply collapsed or sometimes smugglers, as desperate they are, cut the barbed wires to make their sneaky movements easy.  At the face of it, these patches can be called, in true sense and practical terms, ‘unfenced’.

It is not that the authorities are unaware of the conditions of the Indo-Bangla fencings. They are well aware of the condition. Only recently Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking steps for completing fencing work of the unfenced stretches as the state witnessed a rise in influx.

The Chief Minister alive with the present political situation of Bangladesh was openly apprehensive. He pointed out in a media interaction that while it might take time to ‘practically see better time on our ties with the country’ there was an increase in influx. “ We have raised the matter with the Centre and sought complete fencing of the border”, he said.

On the other hand, MP Biplab Kumar Deb also took up the matter with Union government. Concerned at the Bangladesh’s political developments and rise of anti Indian and Islamic radicals in their country and also possible infiltration of these elements (the Rohingya spillover being a particular concern of course) he also sought Union Home Minister’s attention to the unfenced patches and demanded that works must be expedited. Deb is also a member of the Consultative Committee of the Home Ministry and his concern must ring the bell.

It is expected that they did also mention about the collapsing fences along the border and their repair besides the wholly ‘unfenced 26.64 kms).

Nevertheless, these pictures are taken only recently and it is thus clear that no response relating to repairing of these barbed wire fencing was forthcoming, hitherto. And as such bamboo thatched ‘bera’ stands, as we said, our first line of physical defence of national boundary… at least for that Bangladesh government despite its inimical attitude would not protest as these bamboo thatched –Khara Bain in local language – cannot be called permanent structure along the border and we shall be able to prevent smuggling, human trafficking and infiltration of terrorists too. 

(Also Published in Tripura Times)