Indian envoy summoned over border issues

Dhaka on Sunday summoned Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, to discuss escalating tensions along the Bangladesh-India border.

High Commissioner Verma was seen entering the foreign ministry around 3 pm, following reports of heightened activities and disputes along the shared border between the two neighboring countries.

The Indian envoy was summoned by the Bangladesh foreign secretary Md Jashim Uddin and the meeting was lasted around 45 minutes. 

“We have understanding with regard to fencing the border for security. Our two boarder guard enforcements - BSF and BGB - have been in communication in this regards. We expect the understandings will be implemented and that cooperative approach to combating crime,” Verma told reporters after the meeting at the ministry. 

 The envoy also said he and the foreign secretary also discussed Indian commitment to ensuring the crimes along the border, effectively addressing the challenges of smuggling, movements of criminal and trafficking. 

Earlier, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the ministry had been apprised of the situation and indicated that the Indian envoy might be summoned to address the matter.

The India-Bangladesh border, one of the world’s longest international boundaries, has historically been a source of contention.