India-Bangladesh work together to settle disputes

India and Bangladesh have been making consistent efforts to strengthen security along the border to prevent smuggling, illegal migration and cross border terrorism.

Recently, a team of officials from Bangladesh conducted a joint border survey with Indian officials in Tripura.

A Bangladesh team, led by Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Director General of Bangladesh's Department of Land Records and Survey, was in India to carry out a joint border survey with their Indian counterparts.

The Indian team was led by the Director of the Survey of India, N.R. Biswal.

They surveyed some 200 kms of the international boundary, including few disputed points like Kamalasagar, Kaiyerdhepha and Akhaura land port areas, and also finalised the location of the new subsidiary border pillars.

"Every year, we are doing construction of few pillars. This year, we have constructed near about 250 pillars. Some pillars are missing or misplaced. We are doing repairing and reconstruction also. Sometimes, we are doing densifying i.e. in some bent positions that are confusing in nature; we are putting sub pillars so that any confusion will not come in both the sides," said Biswal.

The teams had earlier visited a few spots in Sylhet District of Bangladesh.

India shares a 4,096-km-long border with Bangladesh, the longest boundary it has with any of its neighbours.

India has fenced 2,500 km of its border with Bangladesh to stop illegal migration, drug and arms trafficking, cattle smuggling and other border crimes.

The unfenced border still remains a cause of concern for both countries. However, the new subsidiary border pillars across Tripura will help better demarcation.

"It will help the two countries to settle down each and every inch of border line. Moreover, the people who live in this area between the two countries will not be in a confusing state. In turn, it will help the two border fencing agencies to manage the border line," added Abdul Mannan.

Both India and Bangladesh are continuously improving infrastructure along the border to promote cross border trade and people-to people contact.

The two sides are committed to work together towards curbing insurgency and preventing infiltration, smuggling and cross border terrorism.