Syllabus: GS3/ Internal Security
Context
- India summoned the Bangladesh Acting High Commissioner to India over security measures at the border.
Reasons for India-Bangladesh Border Disputes
- As per the 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, no defence structures can be built within 150 yards from the zero line of the border.
- India does not consider wire fencing a defence structure, while Bangladesh and Pakistan do.
- Impact on Border Residents: The construction of fencing, especially in densely populated border areas, has led to practical challenges for local populations.
- CCTV and Electronic Surveillance: India has implemented high-tech surveillance systems, including CCTV cameras and electronic gadgets, to monitor the border.
- This has raised concerns in Bangladesh about sovereignty, with accusations that such surveillance constitutes an infringement on its territorial integrity.
| India- Bangladesh Border – India and Bangladesh share 4,096.7 km of border, the largest land border India shares with any of its neighbours. – States Sharing Border: West Bengal (2,216.7 km), Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram. – Fencing: Along the India-Bangladesh border, covering all eastern states including West Bengal, 3,141 kilometers have been fenced out of a total of 4,156 km. |
Need for Managing the Borders
- Security Concerns: India’s porous borders facilitate illegal crossings, smuggling of contraband, and cross-border terrorism, particularly from militant groups in Pakistan, posing significant security threats.
- Demographic Changes: Unregulated migration from Bangladesh has affected the demographic landscape in border states, leading to social strain and challenges in resource distribution.
- Infrastructure Development: Many border areas in India lack basic infrastructure such as roads, communication networks, and border outposts, hampering the effectiveness of border management efforts.
India’s border management
- Border Monitoring: Construction of fences, floodlights, roads, Border Out Posts (BOPs), and Company Operating Bases (COBs) for constant surveillance and rapid response to threats.
- Border Security Force plays a pivotal role in patrolling and safeguarding India’s borders, including handling infiltration, smuggling, and other security concerns.
- Cross-Border Trade: Construction of integrated checkposts and trade facilitation centers has streamlined customs clearance and reduced trade barriers.
- Border Area Development Programme (BADP): Launched in 1986-87 for the balanced development of border areas in states bordering Pakistan—Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan—later extended to all land borders.
Concluding remarks
- Resolving border disputes is essential for ensuring national security, particularly in light of cross-border terrorism and illegal activities.
- The Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 2015 between India and Bangladesh stands as a testament to the importance of diplomatic dialogue in resolving longstanding border issues.
| Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) – The Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between India and Bangladesh, signed on 6th June 2015 in Bangladesh, marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations. – The agreement was a historic step in resolving long-standing border disputes, particularly regarding the exchange of enclaves along the India-Bangladesh border. Key Features of the Agreement – India to Bangladesh: The agreement facilitated the transfer of 111 Indian enclaves (also called chitmahals) to Bangladesh, covering an area of 17,160.63 acres. – Bangladesh to India: Conversely, India received 51 enclaves located within Bangladesh, totaling 7,110.02 acres. – In the land swap, Bangladesh gained a larger portion of land than India. 1. This disparity was a point of contention but was ultimately viewed as a compromise necessary to resolve the decades-old border issues. |
Source: IE
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