Border skirmishes around Jaintapur and Padua threaten to destabilize the hard won amity that Bangladesh now shares with India.
The Daily Star reports:
“Indian Border Security Force dug 25 bunkers following an overnight intrusion into Bangladesh territory through Padua-Protappur border in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet and retreated yesterday afternoon after 19 hours.”
“The BSF’s retreat from about 100-yard inside the international border came after an emergency flag meeting with Bangladesh Rifles from 1:30pm to 3:30pm on ‘no man’s land’ at Padua-Protappur amidst tension prevailing since Friday night.”
“Earlier, around 9:00pm on Friday BSF trespassed into Bangladesh territory through border pillars No 1270 and 1271 and dug 25 bunkers while BDR took position in the nearby area and dug eight bunkers.”
So far the moves and exchanges seem, on the whole, quite civil. Nevertheless, even the smallest eruption could trigger fatalities and the whole house of cards could come crashing down.