Joint retreat ceremony at India-Bangla border from Nov 6

The border guards of India and Bangladesh will conduct a joint retreat ceremony from Nov 6, Border Security Force officials said here.

Modelled on the world famous drill at the Attari-Wagah border between India and Pakistan, the ceremony was earlier slated to start from Oct 2 - the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi - but was postponed due to the weather and commitments of VVIPs of both countries.

The ceremony at the Petrapole-Benapole border will see Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel conduct the drill in unison and synchronized coordination in full regalia, with the flag-lowering routine carried out before sunset.

The drills at Petrapole (on the Indian side in North 24 Parganas district) and Benapole (on the Bangladesh side in Jessore district) have been fine tuned to suit to the taste of spectators from both countries as well as in keeping with the existing cordial and harmonious relations between BSF and BGB.

The people will not see the adrenaline rushing aggression which is on display at Attari in Punjab but will be much subdued in comparison, said sources.

Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and his Bangladesh counterpart Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir are scheduled to be present at the inaugural event Nov 6.