BSF, BGB join hands on environment

Border guards of India and Bangladesh on Tuesday expressed concern over changing climatic cycles and promised appropriate actions during an exchange of saplings at the Akhaura border between Tripura and Bangladesh.

Border Security Force (BSF), promoting “My Earth My Duty” on Tuesday, organised an exchange of saplings with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to educated troopers on both sides about global warming.

The programme was a part of the massive drive taken by BSF to plant 180,000 saplings throughout the country in 30 minutes in its ambit areas on Tuesday.

This was a record.

Saplings of various valuable trees were exchanged between the DIG BSF BS Tolia and Director of 12 battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Salauddin Khaled at Akhaura check post between Tripura’s capital Agartala and Brahmanbaria in Bangladesh.

“We thought that we must give some sapling to our counterparts in Bangladesh for planting them in the border area. We have already planted thousands of plants in our area of duty. The campaign is covering the whole of India and also wanted to include our friendly country Bangladesh,” said DIG Tolia.

Over 20 million trees have been planted across India under 'My Earth My Duty'.

The pan-India reach of the campaign was made possible by utilizing the border guards of Bangladesh and Pakistan Rangers in the western frontier.

Meantime BGB 12 battalion'sr Salauddin said they had also undertaken similar initiatives but were touched by the BSF's gesture.

“It strengthens our relationship and brings us closer to better manage the border.”

A DG-level talk between BSF and BGB on various issue related to the India-Bangladesh border is scheduled to start at New Delhi from tomorrow.

India's northeastern region shares a 1,880-km-long border with Bangladesh with much potential for cross-border trade.

The two countries have struggled to establish good ties ever since India helped its eastern neighbour to emerge as an independent nation in 1971.