The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has halted the construction of a barbed wire fence along the Dahagram border in Lalmonirhat's Patgram upazila following strong protests by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials.

According to BGB and local sources, the BSF initiated the construction on Friday around noon, violating international law, which stipulates that no structures can be constructed within 150 yards of a border's zero line.

BGB officers, along with locals, strongly protested the action, which led to the cessation of the works initially, according to Amir Khasru, assistant director of Rangpur 51 BGB Battalion.

The incident has heightened tensions between the two law enforcement agencies.

The following day, senior officials from both the BGB and BSF were scheduled to visit the site in Munshipara area for inspection. While BGB Rangpur Sector Commander Lt Sabri Ahmed and Rangpur 51 BGB Battalion Commanding Officer Lt Col Selim Aldin were present at the location throughout the day, BSF officials did not appear, the BGB official said.

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Later that night, the BSF sent a message to the BGB, stating that they would not construct a barbed wire fence on the zero line of the border.

"Locals are aware of the matter, and we will strongly protest if the BSF tries to violate the law," said Khabir Uddin, a 65-year-old farmer from Munshipara.

Earlier, in 2010, the BGB and BSF signed an agreement regarding the Tin Bigha Corridor at the entrance to Dahagram, which permits barbed wire construction only on this border. However, the agreement was violated in 2021 when the BSF opposed the construction of optical fibre lines for broadband internet services, Amir mentioned.

The BGB has increased patrolling along the border to prevent untoward incidents. Neither side will be allowed to build any structures within 150 yards of the zero line on the Dahagram border until a decision is made on the matter in the next meeting between the two agencies, he added.