No concessions will be made to the BSF, says BGB director general

“Some criminal gangs in our country are sending information to the BSF,” says Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui

No concessions will be given to India’s Border Security Force on matters of border security, says Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, the director general of Border Guard Bangladesh.

He said, “We are determined to protect the border. We want to assure the BSF that we will not give any kind of concession. I want to assure them that we will not allow anything that is out of order."

He made the remark at a press conference at BGB headquarters on Thursday afternoon.

Asked whether India’s attitude on the border has changed since the Awami League government fell on Aug 5 in the face of a student-led mass movement, he said there was some propaganda at the beginning claiming that those from minority groups could leave.

“Then we saw that the BSF had increased manpower in their camps, they are on high alert. In some cases where the Indian army is not supposed to enter and is instead supposed to stay away - we have noticed their soldiers moving during those times."

He said that when written and verbal protests were lodged over the issue, they denied it.

“However, the matter will be raised again in the next meeting at the DG level,” Ashrafuzzaman said.

“Overall, I see they have stepped up their guard and security system significantly. They are trying to keep an eye on many things on our side."

The director general said: "We are trying to find the criminal groups who are sending information to the BSF. We are working to identify these criminals and hand them over to the law.”