India launches massive fence project along Bangladesh border

The West Bengal government has decided to hand over the required land to India’s Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days for building fencing along the Bangladesh border, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Monday.

The decision was taken at the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed state government, according to reports by NDTV and other Indian media. Adhikari chaired the meeting at Nabanna around noon local time.

After the meeting, the chief minister said the process of transferring land for border fencing would begin immediately and would be completed within 45 days. He said the state had already approved the handover to the Union Home Ministry and the BSF.

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“The demographic structure of the state has changed. On the very first day, we approved the transfer of land to the Home Ministry and the BSF,” Adhikari said, adding that the land and revenue secretary and the chief secretary had been assigned to complete the process.

He said once the land transfer is completed, the BSF will move forward with fencing the border to strengthen security and address illegal infiltration concerns.

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly criticised the previous state government for not providing land for border fencing.

Suvendu Adhikari, who was sworn in as West Bengal’s first BJP chief minister on Saturday, had earlier pledged to rebuild the state under the new administration.