Wagah of East: Tree holds up installation of Gandhi portrait

More than a year after India started hosting a joint retreat ceremony with Bangladesh here, the 'Wagah of the East' still awaits a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi to match the one of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman on the other side.
The hurdle is a 'Siris' tree which stands on the Indian side of Petrapole-Benapole post along the Indo-Bangladesh international border. Right across is a huge wall depicting the picture of Rehman, founding father of Bangladesh.
"There are some no-objection certificates and clearances pending with the civil and forest department authorities to cut or alter this old tree for installation of Gandhi's portrait.

"But this has been hanging fire for a long time. Hence, while you see the guiding light of Bangladesh on the other side, on the Indian side it's just the tree as of now," a senior BSF officer told PTI.
The BSF, meanwhile, to showcase the venue as a special public interface between the two countries, has built a cement tower next to the tree.
"Till the time we can get permission to install a portrait or a large mural of Gandhi, this tower has been erected," another officer said.

The Border Security Force, since November 6, 2013, has been conducting a joint retreat ceremony at the IB here with their counterparts Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), similar to the one along Wagah-Attari border with Pakistan but in a subdued form.

The ceremony was inaugurated by the then Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his counterpart Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir here.
The 13-minute event that begins around 5 PM everyday sees BSF and BGB personnel taking down their respective national flags and the ceremonial closing of gates.
The troops stomp their iron grip fitted shoes on the hard track, but they do not indulge in aggressive body posturing and staring even as they give loud commands to execute drills.
While the Indian side at Petrapole here has put up tents and some chairs for the viewers, those on the Bangladeshi side at Benapole stand along the border gates and the IB to catch a glimpse of the short ceremony.

"There are plans to enhance the infrastructure so that there can be a proper viewers' gallery but there are also pending clearances and clarifications on it.
"There are no clear answers as to whom does the land next to the IB belong. We are digging for the land records," a senior BSF commander said.
The Petrapole-Benapole border also hosts the Integrated Check Post (ICP) and just before and after the ceremony, trucks and people on foot cross the IB after checking by BSF, Customs and Immigration authorities.
"There are also plans to get new iron gates for the venue as the existing ones have become rusted and creaky.

"But most important is to get a portrait of Mahatma at this iconic place as it is symbolic of values and morals which India and its people stand for," the officer said.
Along the Attari-Wagah land border, India and Pakistan have large pictures of their national leaders Gandhi and Mohammed Ali Jinnah respectively.