The government is formulating a long-term policy to strengthen and modernize Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to make the frontier force capable of facing the present day challenges.
“As part of the long-term plan, ‘Vision-2014’ is now being formulated to make BGB stronger, modern and time-befitting to face the new challenges,” said BGB Director General (DG) Major General Abul Hossain.
“We, as part of ‘Vision-2041’, are planning to create three new sectors at Ali Kadam, Naogaon and Jessore, eight battalions at Navaran, Meherpur, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Madak, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Kulaura and four reserve battalions,” he said.
A total of 225 border outposts (BOPs) will be built as part of a plan of setting up minimum one BOP in five kilometers while there is another plan to form two riverine battalions at Nildumur and Teknaf to check smuggling, he continued.
The government has agreed in principle to recruit 15,000 more personnel for the frontier force to reduce manpower shortage, he said.
Asked about the progress regarding formation of air wing of BGB, he said, “Foundation stones have already been set up at Baitul Izzat and Satkania for installing the air wing as per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A portion of the required land has already been purchased for setting the air wing while measures are going on to purchase the rest of the land and helicopters to this end, he added.
The government has already approved setting up a region on the ad-hoc basis at Ramu to secure 271 kilometers area along the Myanmar border and the flag of this new region will soon be hoisted, he said.
“Smart Card Management System equipped with modern technologies will be introduced to make the para-military force capable of securing the unprotected border areas,” the BGB chief added.
A proposal relating to the construction of 935 kilometers of road along the Indian border and the 285 kilometers of road along the Myanmar border have been sent to the ministry, he said, expressing his optimism about its quick implementation.
