The BDR delegation at the talks brushed aside BSF's claim that construction of barbed wire fences is 'not a defence measure' and said BSF training manuals also termed this a 'defence measure'.

Sources at the BDR headquarters said the Bangladesh side also pointed out that Indo-Bangladesh Boundary Accord, 1974, commonly known as Mujib-Indira treaty, said no country would carry out any defence measure within 150 yards of the zero point. And construction of barbed wire fences within the area is a breach of the treaty, it told the Indian side.

While the Agartala meeting to ease border tension was in progress, BSF continued to reinforce its strength opposite Ramgarh border in Khagrachhari district, creating panic among people of the area, BDR sources said.

The BDR team also opposed India's setting up of pump houses and pumping out water from the common rivers of the two countries.

Terming such activities a 'breach' of the border treaty, the BDR urged the Indian side to stop this.

Firing on and killing of innocent and unarmed Bangladeshi people by the BSF and Indian nationals also came up at the meeting.

The other issues raised by the BDR included BSF camps on the border, security, obstruction to development work on the Bangladesh side by the BSF, and smuggling of arms and ammunition and drugs.

Deputy Director General of BDR Brigadier General SM Golam Rabbani leads the eight-member BDR team at the talks being held at BSF Salbagan Headquarters. IG of BSF for Assam, Meghalaya, Monipur and Nagaland Shri SC Srivastava is leading the 14-member Indian team.

The BDR raised the issues at the meeting that began at 9:00am and continued till 4:00pm. The BSF is likely to come up with its points today, said a top BDR official.

"The BSF started erecting barbed wire fences in 1980 but we never resisted it as they were constructing it in their territory. This time we are resisting it because they are doing this within 150 yards of the no man's land," said the official, wishing not to be named.

Ramgarh

BDNEWS reports: BSF yesterday continued its reinforcement and was piling up huge quantity of construction materials to erect barbed wire fences opposite Ramgarh border in Khagrachhari.

BDR and local sources said BSF deployed a large number of its personnel and amassed heavy weapons at Pancharampara, Kashibari, Adharmanik, Tabalchhari and Taindong border points.

Both the sides declared a red alert on the borders for the last 20 days.

People of the area continued to flee their houses as BDR-BSF exchanged fire 15 times during this period.

Our staff correspondent in Khulna adds: Fresh deployment of BSF personnel equipped with heavy arms at all the camps opposite Benapole and other border points in Jessore and Jhenidah has created panic among people of the areas.

A dawn-todusk curfew has been imposed on the Indian side, indicating border tension is mounting, reports received here said .

BSF men boarding river vessels are also intruding into Bangladesh territory.