Major General Md Shafeenul Islam Collected

'We have identified around 350km of border with India and Myanmar as sensitive and vulnerable'

The incidents of border killings will come down to zero if cattle smuggling through the Bangladesh-India border ends, Border Guard (BGB) Director General (DG) Maj Gen Md Shafeenul Islam has said.

“Cattle smuggling is the main reason behind border killings, and it should be stopped (to) bring down border killings,” the BGB DG said at a press briefing on Sunday, held at the Battalion Headquarters of BGB 1 in Rajshahi after attending its 224th founding anniversary celebration.

The BGB chief said: “We cannot accept the killing of a single Bangladeshi national along the border. Concerted efforts from all quarters, including law enforcement agencies, people residing along the border areas, and public representatives have become crucial to put a stop to the border killings.”

Responding to a question, DG Shafeenul said border surveillance technology is very effective to ensure peace and security through combating border-related crimes, reports BSS.

“We have identified around 350km of border with India and Myanmar as sensitive and vulnerable,” the BGB chief said. In the first phase, installation work of “border surveillance and response system” along 7-km sensitive area of Patuatuli in Jessore has been completed.

A communication network equipped with thermal camera, video camera, rudder and sensor-connected various instruments was set up there, he told journalists.

Currently, installation work of the system along the 10-km border area of Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar is underway, he said. “We are very hopeful about completion of the modern system along the remotest border areas in Cox’s Bazar, Naogaon, Dinajpur and Chapainawabganj districts in the coming years,” he added.

“As we have manpower shortage to manage the large border manually, we are putting more emphasis on the modern system,” he also said.

“We are committed to combating trafficking of drugs, human and children,” the BGB chief asserted while replying to another question.

He, however, said the killings in border areas have been reduced significantly due to the cordial relation between BGB and Indian Border Security Force.