BSF and BDR celebrates India's Independence Day eve at Dawki

Shillong, Aug 14 (UNI) Leaving aside their differences, the Border Security Force and Bangladeshi Rifles came together today at Dawki, and celebrated India's Independence Day eve celebration.

Though, this was the first time for the frontier guards of both countries to celebrate Freedom Day celebration, both sides had expressed that the ongoing confidence-building measures between the two countries had immensely helped ease tension.

Dawki, situated in the foothills of Cherra Khyriem Hills in Meghalaya's Jaintia district, was also the important trading centre between India and Bangladesh.

The Commanding Officers of 121 battalion BSF and 21 Rifle Battalion of BDR graced the occasion.

People from both sides of the border also witnessed the musical show consisting of a potpourri of Hindi and Bengali songs on both sides of the border.

People were seen enjoying and dancing to the lilting tunes being churned out by the BSF Jazz band and the local youth club of Dawki.

'' The event marked another step forward in direction of confidence-building measures between the two neighbouring nations, '' said Sudhir Kumar Singh, BSF Commanding Officer of 121 battalion.

Appreciating steps taken by their Indian counterparts, Commanding Officer of BDR Golam Masmaula said, '' It is encouraging and one step ahead towards bringing peace in the border. '' The BDR official said the BDR would soon invite the BSF for friendly volleyball match in Sylhet to further strengthen the understanding between the two nations.

Judging from the recent football match between two frontiers guards, the joint celebration of India's Independence Day has given a positive uptrdend for the two sides to continue to work together for bringing about a cordial environment in the border areas of the two countries.

The day also marked with exchanged of pleasantries gifts between the BSF and BDR officials at the end of the show.

Meanwhile Bangladesh Rifles' Sylhet sector commander Col Abul Hussain said at Silchar that the traditional definition of border security with the help of arms, ammunition and troops was obsolete in the changing regional scenario.

Leading a delegation of BDR officials, which visited Karimganj in response to an invitation by BSF as a gesture of friendship on the eve of India's Independence Day, Col Hussain said nowadays international border should hum and buzz with economic activities, and economic security should be defined as the real idea of security.

The BDR sector commander categorically said there was no incident of infiltration into India from Sylhet area of Bangladesh in particular, he said adding Bangladeshi troops were very clear about it and the BDR was too careful to maintain vigil in this sector so that no Bangladeshi national could enter the Indian territory illegally.

Security forces of both sides were on high alert and adequate care was taken to prevent any infiltration from either sides and ensured that smugglers were kept at bay so as to restrict them from committing trans border crime.

UNI