Border security tightened ahead of Bangladesh polls

Ahead of the general elections in Bangladesh on December 30, the Border Security Force (BSF) has heightened patrolling and vigil along the India-Bangladesh frontiers, a top BSF officer said here on Monday.

"Keeping in mind the general elections to the Bangladesh Parliament, we have further increased the security along the India-Bangladesh borders.

"BSF troopers are always ready to deal with any kind of situation," BSF Tripura Frontier officiating Inspector General (IG) Ashok Kumar Yadav told the media.

"We have asked the BSF commanders and the troopers to keep a close watch on the borders. Patrolling has also been increased," he added.

He also ruled out any possibility of mass infiltration.

Bangladesh media reports, monitored here, said that about 400-450 platoons of army troopers were deployed in 389 areas in 270 constituencies across Bangladesh on Monday to assist with the December 30 poll process.

"The Election Commission earlier announced that the army would be deployed as a striking force across the poll-bound country. The soldiers would remain in the field until January 2 or till the 11th Parliamentary elections ends," the media reports added.

Quoting the poll official the reports said that the forces have been deployed to build up confidence among the people and political parties.

Two militants of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura, who were hiding in Bangladesh, surrendered before the BSF officials on Monday.

The BSF's acting IG said that around 50-60 cadres of Tripura militant outfits were still hiding in their temporary camps in Bangladesh, mostly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. "However, majority of these rebels are keen to return to mainstream."

According to the official, 13 extremists surrendered to the BSF in Tripura in 2018.

Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-km long international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world.

A large portion of the border along Tripura and West Bengal is already fenced and work was underway for fencing the remaining part of the border.

--IANS

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