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Published : 10 Sep 2013, 11:21 PM
The ceremony at Petrapole will see the troops of Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) conduct the drill in unison and synchronised coordination in full regalia at sunset, lowering the respective national flags.
According to a BSF spokesperson, the drills at Petrapole had been fine-tuned to suit the taste of spectators of Bengal as well as in keeping with the existing ‘cordial and harmonious relations’ between the BSF and the BGB.
“However, unlike Attari-Wagah, the people will not see the adrenaline rushing aggression which is on display there. The ceremony at Petrapole will be much subdued in comparison and will focus more on the finer aspects of a shared Bangla culture,” a BSF communiqué said.
The decision to organise the joint retreat ceremonies at three places in the eastern theatre is a result of mutual deliberations during Director General-level coordination conference held in Dhaka in 2011.
At the meeting, a proposal to this effect had been mooted as a part of confidence building measures.
It was aimed at strengthening the cordial relations between the people of both countries while at same time achieving better synergy and bonhomie between the border forces.
The retreat ceremony will be organised at the Petrapole-Benapole Border, Changrabandha-Burimari (both West Bengal) and Akhaura-Phulbari (Tripura).
Initially, the ceremony will be held at Petrapole-Benapole and later at the other places.
The arrangements for the ceremony have been completed with drills prepared and approved by both the countries. Once it gets rolling, it is expected to draw huge crowds to witness the grand display.
The flag-off routine will be carried out before sunset. Contingents of twenty personnel each from both forces will march up to the gate at zero line and open the door.
Songs of Nazrul and Rabindra Sangeet will feature in this ceremony.
After parade and handshakes, both sides will return to their positions. BSF and BGB’s women personnel will also take part.
The programme will last for about 30 minutes – 18 minutes devoted to cultural shows and 12 minutes to the joint retreat drill.
The cultural programme will be presented jointly by the artists of both the countries.
“The cultural programme will initially be held on national holidays of the two countries and at mutually agreed intervals - once a month or once in a fortnight,” BSF communiqué said.
School children from both the countries are expected to participate in them.
The BSF believes the retreat ceremony will not only help develop better and cordial relations between the people of both the countries and forces but will also provide a platform for the artists of the two nations.
Besides the innovative retreat ceremony, there is also proposal for building a BGB and BSF museum for displaying the achievements of the two forces.
