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BGB-BORDER-SURVEILLANCE
Govt setting up modern border surveillance system: Asaduzzaman
SANGSAD BHABAN, July 11, 2019 (BSS) – Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today told the House that the government has started setting up a modern ‘Border Surveillance and Response System’ to ensure an effective border management in the country.
“The Border Surveillance and Response System is being setting up to ensure an effective border management through modern technology,” he said while responding to a starred question placed by ruling party lawmaker Momotaz Begom (Manikganj-2).
The home minister said the works of setting up the surveillance system continues along 328 kilometres sensitive border with Myanmar.
About checking border crimes, he said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) jointly announced a ‘crime free zone’ along 8.3 kilometres border in Jashore.
“Initiatives have also been taken to announce other border areas as the crime free zone gradually” Asaduzzaman said, adding that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and powerful torch lights were set up along the border areas in Jaipurhat, Kushtia and Cox’s Bazar aiming to strengthen surveillance here.
To ensure security in border areas, he said, the BGB has set up 141 floating border outposts (BOPs), including two in the Sundarbans, since 2009 to curb human trafficking, smuggling, robbery and trespass in remote areas.
After the new BOPs were installed, 402 kilometres insecure border areas out of 539 kilometres were brought under strong surveillance, the home minister said.
About modernisation of BGB, he said the air wing has already been introduced in the paramilitary force to make it a three dimensional one. “A process to collect two helicopters for BGB is now at final stage,” he added.
Besides, he said, after introduction of dog squad in the BGB, a new dimension was brought to its operational capacity.
Asaduzzaman said the BGB’s dog squad has been playing an important role in ensuring security in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet airports and other ports, and seizing drugs across the country.
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