Sunday, March 13 2005 15:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Bangladesh has claimed that India's move to fence the border between the two countries with barbed wire, which has sparked frontier tension, was a violation "in some cases" of a 1975 land boundary guideline.

"The recent tension along the border with India, was a consequence of India's move to fence the frontier with barbed wire, violating in some cases, the land boundary guideline of 1975," Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan was quoted as saying by media in Dhaka today (Mar 13, 2005).

Khan claimed that India's Border Security Force have started a move to erect fence 150 yards from the border, which the Bangladesh Rifles has "rightly resisted".

"If there is any problem in case of erecting fences beyond 150 yards of the border, India should talk to Bangladesh. It cannot take decision unilaterally," the Bangladesh Minister said.

The 1975 guideline, agreed between the two countries, provides that no country would construct any defensive structure within 150 yards of the border, he said.

Khan said that a note has also been sent expressing "serious concern" over India's construction of Tipaimukh barrage along with proposals to remove bilateral irritants, media reports said.

He claimed that the construction of the dam, initially started in 1993, would dry up Surma and Kushiara rivers in Bangladesh's northeastern Sylhet district.