‘Bangladesh Not to Allow Border Fencing by India’ 

Imran Rahman 

Agencies, Arab News

DHAKA, 13 April 2005 — Bangladesh yesterday categorically said it would not allow any fencing by India within 150 yards of the zero line between the two countries, as such construction within no man’s land contravenes the 1975 border guidelines.

Dhaka reaffirmed its position a day before the two sides are scheduled to sit for a crucial border conference here.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) will hold talks today to try to resolve the contentious border issues.

An 18-member BSF delegation led by its Director General R.S. Mooshahary arrived here yesterday afternoon to join the seven-day conference at the BDR Headquarters.

BDR Director General Maj. Gen. Jahangir Alam Choudhury, who received his BSF counterpart at the airport, said that the 1975 border guidelines clearly mention that any type of defensive work cannot be done within 150 yards of the zero line.

“Fencing is a defensive work, which is known by all countries. This also is taught at their (Indian) academy. So, we will not allow any fencing within 150 yards,” Gen. Choudhury told reporters.

However, BSF chief R.S. Mooshahary told reporters that India has been constructing fences for last 20-25 years. “It is an ongoing project. In some areas old fencing is being replaced by new while in some areas it is being completed. I don’t think fencing is causing tension” he said.

Meanwhile, rescuers used their bare hands, crow bars and hammers yesterday to reach 200 people still trapped inside the concrete debris of a nine-story garment factory that collapsed after a boiler explosion, as the death toll climbed to 30, police said.

Though nine bodies were pulled from the rubble overnight, rescuers were hopeful that more lives could be saved. Some survivors could be heard calling for help and begging for water.

One survivor astonished rescuers by pulling himself out of the rubble yesterday as they sifted through the debris.

“He just crawled out of an open space all by himself, stood dazed for a bit and collapsed in front of us,” said Anisul Islam, a rescue volunteer. “We were amazed, it was a real miracle.” The survivor, who was trapped on the ground floor, was later identified as Polash, 25. He was recovering in a hospital, rescuers said.