Assam MLAs visit Indo-Bangla border

An all-party delegation of the Assam legislative assembly has visited the India-Bangladesh open border area on Wednesday amid the 'satyagraha' of the All Assam Student Union (AASU).

The AASU is protesting against what it describes as the state government's failure to check 'continued illegal migration from Bangladesh."

AASU and other civil society organisations in Assam are upset with the 'rather passive role' of the state government in handling the fundamentalist activities, even after six suspected Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were arrested from the state's Barpeta district after the Burdwan blasts in West Bengal.

The AASU, in a statement, alleged that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has a 'soft corner' for Bangladeshis and the Assam Government is turning a blind eye towards activities of JMB and such other militant groups.


AASU general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi told mediapersons that “fundamentalist elements” have been able to establish base in Assam because of the failure of successive governments, both at the Centre and the state, to solve the problem of infiltration.

Last week, Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi (of Congress) himself questioned the Home Department's role in checking illegal migration from Bangladesh.

Speaker Gogoi also expressed anger and dissatisfaction on the incomplete work on the border fencing on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Amidst such protests, the all-party delegation, led by Deputy Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly, Bhimananda Tanti made a spot study on the 2.27 km unfenced area in Lathitilla and Dumbari area, about 70 km away from district head quarter town of Karimganj.

The team had also an interaction with top Border Security Force (BSF) officials on Wednesday.

Earlier the team visited Indo-BanglaTrade Centre at Sutarkandi and exchanged sweets with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel on Tuesday.

The all-party team had also inspected the river patrolling system on river Kushiara near Karimganj town by five BSF speed boats. They also studied the situation of open border line measuring 3.5 km long area near Karimganj town which is yet to be fenced.

Talking to media persons at Lathitilla BSF outpost on Wednesday, team leader Tanti said the international border in Karimganj district is secured and river patrolling across river Kushiara in border area has been going on smoothly.

The lawmakers paid floral tribute at the tomb of martyrs of Sepoy mutiny of 1857 in Malegarh on Tuesday.

Other members of the delegation included Monilal Goala, Parliamentary Secretary and the MLAs, Kamal Sing Narzary of Bodoland Peoples Party and Prasanta Phukan of BJP.

The all party team will submit a report to the Assam Government about the open international border line at Indo-Bangladesh in Karimganj district after the visit.