Shillong: Bangladesh was yet to give permission to the BSF (Border Security Force) for shipping its sophisticated floating Border Outposts (BOPS) to riverine borders in Sundarban areas of West Bengal and Dhubri areas of Assam on the Brahmaputra, BSF Director General Ajai Raj Sharma has said.

He told reporters in Shillong yesterday (Nov 23, 2004) that the BSF had applied for permission and the BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) Director General had also recommended the matter to its High Command.

The matter was taken up at the Ministry of External Affairs level also but Dhaka was yet to give its formal permission (for shipping the floating BOPS), the DG said.

The floating BOPS given by an Australian company and assembled in India were equipped with four modern speed-boats, which could travel fast, carry 10 persons each and chase or intercept any smugglers and intruders.

Once the permission was obtained from Bangladesh, the vessels would be brought along the rivers from the Mumbai dock to the Eastern sector, he said.

As part of its modernisation projects, the BSF received nine BOPs and another five were on the pipeline mainly for three areas. Besides the two in the Eastern sector, floating BOPs would be put to use in the Sir Creek Area of Gujarat, he said.

Asked if permission was denied to them by the Bangladesh Government, he said, "in that case we have to bring them by road."

To another question, he said that the Force was increasing its personnel in Tripura, South Bengal and some parts of North Bengal areas.