BGB to Raise 19 New battalions

[eastwatch]

UNBconnect... - BGB is to raise 19 new battalions

BGB is to raise 19 new battalions
Reported on: February 14, 2011 17:44 PM

Feni, Feb 14 (UNB) - The Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) will shortly raise 19 new battalions as part of a grand plan to strengthen the force and restore people’s confidence shattered badly on the border force after the BDR mutiny at its Peelkhan headquarter two years ago.

This was disclosed by BGB Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Rafiqul Islam while opening the new building for Noapur border outpost at Kalikapur in Phulgazi upazil today.

In his bid to raise the morale of the troops Gen Rafiq informed the jawans that observation tower will be constructed to monitor the movement of the Indian BSF. Proposal has been made to the government for procuring 17,000 motorbikes for use of the troops posted at border outposts to improve their mobility. Distance between the outposts will be brought down to 5 km. Four regional headquarters will be set up with fresh recruitments.

BGB chief cautioned the troops against rumours which are still spreading by the vested quarters. “Rumours are still in the air to destabilize the situation. I’m under constant threat of life. I’ve been asked to remain prepared wearing the cerecloth.”

The Gen said he feel very sorry for the distressed families of six thousand misguided troops who were involved in the mutiny. Rendered jobless they are now in prison or on the way resulting immense sufferings to their families. But he did not say how to assist the distressed families of those long served the cause of the nation.

He told the jawans about the stand of the government on shooting down Bangladesh nationals along the border by Indian BSF. He said pressure was mounted upon the Indian side to strictly adhere to the ‘rules of engagement allowing firing gunshot below the heap’ to check the killing.

He however did not tell the BGB jawans that they are equally allowed to shoot Indian violators of border in accordance with the rules of engagement.

A number of Jawans declining to identify told UNB that they are strictly prohibited to fire on the Indians in retaliation.

About half a dozen of Bangladeshi nationals including cattle traders were shot dead by BSF along the border during the last two months despite repeated assurance by India to restrain its border troops.

 

[akash57]

UNBconnect... - BGB is to raise 19 new battalions

BGB is to raise 19 new battalions
Reported on: February 14, 2011 17:44 PM

Feni, Feb 14 (UNB) - The Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) will shortly raise 19 new battalions as part of a grand plan to strengthen the force and restore people’s confidence shattered badly on the border force after the BDR mutiny at its Peelkhan headquarter two years ago.

This was disclosed by BGB Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Rafiqul Islam while opening the new building for Noapur border outpost at Kalikapur in Phulgazi upazil today.

In his bid to raise the morale of the troops Gen Rafiq informed the jawans that observation tower will be constructed to monitor the movement of the Indian BSF. Proposal has been made to the government for procuring 17,000 motorbikes for use of the troops posted at border outposts to improve their mobility. Distance between the outposts will be brought down to 5 km. Four regional headquarters will be set up with fresh recruitments.

BGB chief cautioned the troops against rumours which are still spreading by the vested quarters. “Rumours are still in the air to destabilize the situation. I’m under constant threat of life. I’ve been asked to remain prepared wearing the cerecloth.”

The Gen said he feel very sorry for the distressed families of six thousand misguided troops who were involved in the mutiny. Rendered jobless they are now in prison or on the way resulting immense sufferings to their families. But he did not say how to assist the distressed families of those long served the cause of the nation.

He told the jawans about the stand of the government on shooting down Bangladesh nationals along the border by Indian BSF. He said pressure was mounted upon the Indian side to strictly adhere to the ‘rules of engagement allowing firing gunshot below the heap’ to check the killing.

He however did not tell the BGB jawans that they are equally allowed to shoot Indian violators of border in accordance with the rules of engagement.

A number of Jawans declining to identify told UNB that they are strictly prohibited to fire on the Indians in retaliation.

About half a dozen of Bangladeshi nationals including cattle traders were shot dead by BSF along the border during the last two months despite repeated assurance by India to restrain its border troops.

I don't understand why the hell our troops are not allowed to shoot IN RETALIATION!

 

[third eye]

I don't understand why the hell our troops are not allowed to shoot IN RETALIATION!

Are they asked not to fire back ?

 

[akash57]

Are they asked not to fire back ?

Yes, they are strictly prohibited from firing back even in retaliation. I have boldened the part of the article where it mentions that in my previous post.

 

[blackops]

Yes, they are strictly prohibited from firing back even in retaliation. I have boldened the part of the article where it mentions that in my previous post.

welthis is strange they can fire back in retaliation

 

[mautkimaut]

I welcome this move.. If both sides are guarded properly , there wont be any illegal immigeration.

 

[third eye]

Yes, they are strictly prohibited from firing back even in retaliation. I have boldened the part of the article where it mentions that in my previous post.

Strange.

Is it coz the BSF fires at those crossing illegally & not at BDR.

In any case why equip the border guards with weapons if they are not allowed to use them ? May as well give them batons.

 

[Joe Shearer]

I don't understand why the hell our troops are not allowed to shoot IN RETALIATION!

Are they asked not to fire back ?

Yes, they are strictly prohibited from firing back even in retaliation. I have boldened the part of the article where it mentions that in my previous post.

welthis is strange they can fire back in retaliation

Strange.

Is it coz the BSF fires at those crossing illegally & not at BDR.

In any case why equip the border guards with weapons if they are not allowed to use them ? May as well give them batons.

I found this dialogue to be very strange itself.

As it is, there is a dispute between the two sides about shooting; if Bangladesh believes that the people are being shot are not guilty of anything, there is a credibility problem. There is no reason why an Indian government keen to get the confidence of the general public in Bangladesh should not firmly keep its security forces in check, and it can easily do so; we are not a military dictatorship, either openly or through manipulation behind the scenes. The local state government on the other hand is considered pro-Bangladeshi; the CPM has a reputation of encouraging illegal migration and giving the migrants documents and papers in exchange for their votes. So who in the government is instructing the BSF to shoot? Or is it someone outside government?

If Bangladesh believes that the people are being shot because they have committed a crime - the two common ones are cattle-stealing under the guise of cattle-trade, and forcible harvesting - then where is the question of retaliation? What are they to retaliate against? Police action against criminals? Why? And what international laws govern the use of force to prevent crimes being committed? It is surely nobody's case that the incident should be allowed to take place without any demonstration, and then should be pursued in flag meetings or in courts in Bangladesh?

For several years before 65, the BDR, then known as the EPR, was commanded by an infamous character called Brigadier Torgul. The EPR was several battalions strong, and armed with LMGs, and mortars. He had issued standing instructions to his field commanders to open fire at the lightly-armed West Bengal Border Police (this was before the BSF was set up; India was never as aggressive about her boundaries as her neighbours were, and continue to be), with or without reason. It was only after these WB policement procured 100 LMGs, much to the discomfiture of the then DMO, Monty Palit, who said that it would be impossible, that things improved. The manners and behaviour of the EPR became noticeably better.

Allowing them to retaliate will open up those days once again.

 

[third eye]

What is the point that is trying to be made in post # 8 ?

The issue here was that BD guards are not allowed to retaliate which if correct is strange.

Next if the BSF fires at those who cross illegally they do right in fact not firing would be objectionable. Whether they fire rubber bullets or lead ones is a matter of detail but fire they must.

The point of pre '65 days has no relevance at all. So long as the BSF operates on Indian soil its ok unless there are provisions to cr0ss in hot pursuit which does not exist.

 

[Md Akmal]

@ To raise 19 x Battalion at a time, it is not a joke. Till now we could raise roughly 50/55 Battalions even less for last 40 years.

@ How come we will procure 17,000 motor bites ? In how many years and in how many budgets ?

@ These are all bulshit !!!!! Like earlier she said that Bangladesh will buy sub-marine. She does not know how to talk ? Whenever she feels, she just talk all faul without realising the ground realities. These are the routine affairs. It is true that presently our BDR strenght is much less due to the mutiny.

@ It is like the constructing the Padma bridge, elevated express, mono rail, construction of another International Airport on the side of Padma river, construction of 4 sattelite cities around and deep sea port. Where from she is getting money. Has the money allocated in the budget ? She is shouting for the last 2 years. After coming to the power she announced that very soon she would make South Asia Task Force and than died down. I think she is mental ? People should not jump by litening her. She herself does not what she is talking.

@ India should not also belief her for her commitment.

 

[Joe Shearer]

What is the point that is trying to be made in post # 8 ?

The issue here was that BD guards are not allowed to retaliate which if correct is strange.

Next if the BSF fires at those who cross illegally they do right in fact not firing would be objectionable. Whether they fire rubber bullets or lead ones is a matter of detail but fire they must.

The point of pre '65 days has no relevance at all. So long as the BSF operates on Indian soil its ok unless there are provisions to cr0ss in hot pursuit which does not exist.

You should read others' posts clearly before rushing to reply. It was clear from my post itself what the issue was. What is the meaning of retaliate? Border forces are not placed on a border to shoot at each other. What will the BDR, now the BGB, retaliate against? Try answering that question.

Even the Bangladeshis don't claim that their border troops are being shot at. So where is the question of retaliation?

Furthermore, the reference to pre-65 days clearly mentions that the WB police were shot at on the Indian side of the boundary. Giving too much leeway to these bodies can lead to trouble; do you think that there will be any point in trying to go into every incident where the BGB says it was shot at, thought it was shot at, felt it might be shot at and therefore 'retaliated'? A policy of restraint is exactly the right policy to follow, and it is strange that we ourselves are trying to dilute the policy.

 

[Nalwa]

Whats the debate here? The BSF shoots at people crossing illegally and not BD troops. Even the BGB Director's stand seems to confirm this. Otherwise no commander would ask his troops to not to retaliate.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Whats the debate here? The BSF shoots at people crossing illegally and not BD troops. Even the BGB Director's stand seems to confirm this. Otherwise no commander would ask his troops to not to retaliate.

And that's what i just said, in post 11.

To explain the rest.

The BD border guards were told not to retaliate by their commanders, because they have a tradition of firing on Indian policemen, border guards and the Army without provocation, calling it retaliation. This tradition goes right bacck to 65 and before. It was because of this that the BDR, now the BGB, were persuaded not to allow this so-called retaliation, because with a force like a BDR, every minor incident would have escalated into a shooting war.

It still can, if we fail to understand the problem of adjudicating incidents along such a long and complex border.

 

[Gonjo]

Good move definitely. Seriousness of protecting countries dignity is also necessary, with more aggressiveness towards counterparts.

Mr. Akmal: We dont beg like we did till Ershad Era. Its not a big deal to handle economically. Just watch, bashing every time AL sometimes backfires to ur country too. We are not Somalians that we cant buy anything.

 

[tallboy123]

I hope from now,no border crossing will be allowed from both sides..
We will not use live bullets...
We have given up 10,000 acres of land to Bangladesh..

So now lets co-operate and grow together..
and stop hating..