“Concocted Stories”: BSF Refutes Reports Of Bangladesh Guards Taking Control Of 5-Km Indian Land

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday (7 January) dismissed reports alleging that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had taken control of a 5-km stretch of Indian territory along the International Border (IB) as “baseless and irresponsible.”

In an official statement, the BSF South Bengal Frontier clarified that the reports, which surfaced in a section of the Bangladeshi press, were devoid of “truth and merit.”

"The area in question is on the Indian side, in Ranghat village of Bagda block, North 24 Parganas district. The International Boundary (IB) runs along the Kodaliya River, which is well-demarcated by reference pillars on both sides. The status of the IB and the duty pattern of the BSF have remained unchanged for decades," the statement said.

The BSF categorically refuted claims that BGB personnel had initiated 24-hour patrols in the area with motorised boats and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) since 19 December 2024.

It also highlighted that the area remains unfenced and is vulnerable to cross-border smuggling and infiltration.

“Strict measures have been taken to curb such activities, bringing infiltration attempts in the region down to negligible levels,” the statement added.

The BSF underscored its commitment to safeguarding Indian territory and maintaining peace along the border. “Not an inch of Indian land has been, or will be, taken over by the counterpart. Both the BSF and BGB are peacefully dominating their respective areas in accordance with the 'India-Bangladesh Border Guidelines, 1975', ensuring the integrity of the IB is maintained," it said.

The reports, attributed to Lt Col Rafique Islam, the newly-appointed commanding officer of the 58 BGB, were dismissed as “false and fabricated,” with the BSF warning that such claims could damage the goodwill between the two border forces.

“Such false and fabricated claims will only erode the goodwill between the two border-guarding forces,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, BSF South Bengal DIG Nilotpal Kumar Pandey confirmed that fencing work along the India-Bangladesh border in Malda district was progressing peacefully, despite objections raised by the BGB.

"Everything is going on in a peaceful manner," Pandey assured reporters at Petrapole in North 24 Parganas district.

The BSF reiterated its dedication to ensuring the sanctity of the border and fostering cooperative relations with its Bangladeshi counterpart.

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