Bangladesh tightens security on border checkpoints

Dhaka, Oct 6: Authorities have tightened security at a border checkpoint in Jessore district to keep a strict check on nationals and foreigners travelling in and out of Bangladesh, the media reported.

Benapole land port's immigration authorities and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said they received a "special order" from the government to intensify security after the recent murders of two foreign nationals in the country, bdnews24 reported.

Benapole is the most commonly used crossover in Bangladesh to travel to or from India.

"We are constantly forwarding all the details of foreigners entering through Benapole to Dhaka. We have been told to meticulously scrutinise every detail before allowing a Bangladesh national to cross the border," immigration police official Momin Uddin said.

Security measures have also been beefed up at other border checkpoints with India in the district, said Jessore-based 26 BGB Battalion commander Jahangir Hossain.

"We are on constant alert so that no criminals can cross the border."

On Septembet 28, Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was murdered in Dhaka followed by Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi, who was killed in Rangpur on October 3.

Both of them were murdered in a similar way, shot thrice from a close range by assailants riding motorcycles.

The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for both murders, according to international media and monitoring groups.

However, the Bangladesh government said they were yet to find any evidence of IS involvement.

IANS