India’s efforts to build a barbed wire fence on the Bangladesh border
The Indian central government has pressured the West Bengal state government to quickly complete the construction of a barbed wire fence on the Bangladesh border. For this purpose, the central government has also requested that the acquired land be quickly transferred to the central government.
This information has been learned from a report by the Indian media outlet Telegraph India.
Indian Home Secretary Govinda Mohan held a meeting with West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Secretary of the state’s Land and Reforms Department Vivek Kumar on Sunday. So that the obstacles related to the construction of the barbed wire fence between the center and the state government can be removed.
Govinda Mohan has previously held a meeting with West Bengal state government officials on the same issue.
A West Bengal government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the series of meetings mainly highlight the great interest of the center in this regard. The Union Home Secretary has requested the state government to transfer the land required to the ministry to complete the project quickly. He reminded the state government that the Centre has already allocated funds for land acquisition.
According to state administration sources, West Bengal has a total border of 2,216.7 km with Bangladesh. About 80 percent of the total border has already been secured through fencing or technical solutions.
Another official, who did not wish to be named, said, “The Centre wants to fence the remaining 20 percent and feels that the state is delaying the transfer of land.”
According to a central government official, the Centre has enough reason to believe that the project is being delayed because of the West Bengal state government.
The official, who did not wish to be named, said, “The home ministry had allowed the state to purchase land directly instead of acquiring land. This is because the West Bengal government has not adopted a new land acquisition law. Since the project has not progressed much in the last one year, the Centre has reason to believe that the state government has not made enough efforts for the project.”
An official in the West Bengal state secretariat told The Telegraph that the process of purchasing the land required for the project by the state government is underway.
He said, “We are moving ahead and hope that the process will be completed soon. The Union Home Secretary has reviewed the situation and we have informed him about our progress.”
Another senior state government official said that the construction of the barbed wire fence along the Bangladesh border was supposed to be completed in March 2019. But the project was stalled due to land issues. Now the need for the fence has gained new importance in the wake of the exchange of allegations between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress over illegal infiltration.
During his visit to West Bengal last Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that the peace of West Bengal is being disturbed due to illegal infiltration from Bangladesh.
However, this allegation is not new from Amit Shah or his party, the ruling BJP at the Centre. Central BJP leaders have complained many times in the past that the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal is allowing infiltration from Bangladesh.
However, the Trinamool Congress has also counter-alleged that it is the Centre’s job to prevent illegal infiltration from the neighbouring country.
Political analysts say the two consecutive meetings this month highlight the importance the Centre attaches to the issue.
Firstly, the Centre is concerned about the influx of migrants in large numbers due to the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh and alleged attacks on minorities.
Secondly, ahead of the 2026 state elections, the BJP-led Centre wants to blame the Trinamool Congress for not providing land for complete fencing.
