DHAKA, 10 March 2005 — Bangladeshi and Indian border guards exchanged fire yesterday in the wake of India’s attempts to build a barbed-wire fencing on the no-man’s land along their 4,000-km common border, forcing thousands of villagers to flee their homes for safety.
After a two-day lull, the border forces traded heavy gunfire at Singimari frontier in Lalmonirhat district and Ramgarh in hilly Khagrachhari district over the construction of fences by the Indians in breach of an agreement of Monday’s flag meeting.
Initial reports from the frontier in Hatibandha sub-district of Lalmonirhat said the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire at about 3:15 p.m. when Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel opposed the attempt of fencing off the border.
BDR forces retaliated under the command of 19 Battalion Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Ahad, the reports said.
In the first hour of firing till 4:15 pm, the two sides traded some 3,000 rounds of shots but only one Bangladeshi peasant was reported injured. Firing was continuing when last reports came in.
“Bangladeshi villagers fled homes from around the trouble spot at pillar no. 872 and took shelter in Hatibandha sub-district headquarters,” according to an initial report from the remote area.
The border forces exchanged gunfire thrice yesterday at Ramgarh frontier in Khagrachhari.
At least 30 rounds of shots were fired during the battle that erupted when BSF men attempted to erect a barbed-wire fence at Kashibari area.
A red alert has been declared in the frontier areas following the incident.
$200 Million Aid to Bangladesh
The World Bank said yesterday it would lend $200 million to Bangladesh for rehabilitation programs following last year’s devastating floods that left large swathes of the country submerged for weeks.
The package would help fund the repair of roads, bridges and schools damaged by the flooding, the heaviest suffered by Bangladesh since those in 1998 which were the country’s worst ever, a World Bank statement said.
Credit would be also given to around 400,000 low-income households to help re-establish ruined livelihoods, it added.
Floods during July and August 2004 killed more than 700 people and left 38 percent of the country under water. Millions had to flee their homes.
