At this point BSF opened fire, which were returned by BDR. Besides, BDR and local villagers foiled BSF's attempt to "push in" about one hundred Bengali-speaking Muslims through Taltola near Benapole checkpoint. Although there were no injuries on either side, the very fact that such untoward incidents took place -- despite the decision at the recent Home Secretary level meeting that all border issues would be resolved through discussion and consultation -- is disappointing. The Deputy High Commissioner of India was called by the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry and was officially notified, stating that Dhaka expects that the problem would be solved through flag meetings, which BDR has already requested with no response from BSF.

The "push in" "push back" factor is an old issue in Indo-Bangladesh relations. During January-February last year, BSF attempted to push in Bengali-speaking people into Bangladesh through Kushtia, Khulna, Dinajpur, and Rangpur frontiers of the country. It was reported that hundreds of Bengali-speaking people were gathered at the zero point and BSF tried to push them in into Bangladesh territory, but their attempts were foiled through the concerted efforts of BDR and local villagers. Bangladesh alleged that the people at the center of the mayhem, were Bengali-speaking Muslim populations of India and mostly from Uttar 24 Parogann, Nadia, Murshidabad, and Coochbihar. The Kolkata-based media also reported high tension in the frontiers of those districts during the push in attempts, signifying that they were from those areas. India, on the other hand, alleged that they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who were being pushed back into their country of origin. The issue of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh into the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal is very high on India's border issue agenda. India alleges that there is a constant flow of illegal immigrants into those states and the development is a threat to India's security. But Bangladesh contends that though there was a movement of people from what was united Bengal into Northeast India in the past, this phenomena no longer exists, especially since Bangladesh came into being. L.K. Advani's claim that there are 20 million Bangladeshis living in India without legal status is considered to be a ploy to cow Bangladesh. He only gave impetus to an issue, which in 1991 was stopped because the Courts gave verdict that without proper identification nobody should be thrown out. Advani's statement coincided with the "push in" attempts of 2003, and BFS attempted to push is as many as 5,122 persons during the year 2003. "Push in" bids across the border embitter Indo-Bangladesh relations and both countries need to find ways and means in order to stop such unfortunate incidents. Bangladesh proposes that there should be proper mechanism to identify the nationality of Bengali-speaking people, and the issue should be dealt with administratively, and it should not be politicised. In his recent statement, the Foreign Minister Morshed Khan reiterated Bangladesh's stand quite eloquently. He said that Bangladesh and India are two neighbours with a porous 4,126-km border. People going into each other's territory can happen. And if there are any illegal immigrants, proper mechanism should be followed to tackle the issue. Pushing them into Bangladesh territory is not what Dhaka expects.

Unfortunately, India's response to cross-border movement of the people has been to erect barbed-wire fence along Indo-Bangladesh border. It is reported that the government of India has sanctioned funds for the construction of border roads and fencing along the borders of different adjoining states of Bangladesh in two phases. Phase I, referred to as the ongoing scheme, is in advanced state of completion covering a length of 854 km of fencing. Phase II, referred to as additional work, was approved by the government in June 2000, and would fence a component of 2429 km. Bangladesh considers barbed-wire fencing by India an unfriendly act. As early as in 2000, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh opposed any construction of fence within 50 yards of no man's land or 150 yards of international line, as there is no such provisions in Mujib-Indira Border Agreement of 1974 and 1975 India-Bangladesh understanding. The fencing,, according to Dhaka, would widen the gap between the two friendly countries. Instead of taking such steps, Dhaka calls upon India for the resolution of all outstanding land border issues so that the movement across the border can done peacefully and without any incidents. As such, attempts should be made to implement the existing treaty and to evolve new mechanism so that all border issues can be resolved expeditiously.

Dilara Choudury is Professor, Govt and Politics, Jahangirnagar University.