Sundarbans to Get First-Ever Fence Along Bangladesh Border Amid Security Push

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) plans to erect a fence along approximately 90 kilometres of the India-Bangladesh border in the Sundarbans region of West Bengal. This would be the first such barrier in the marshy, mangrove-covered terrain, which currently has no ground fencing.

The Border Security Force (BSF), which patrols the area, has initiated a feasibility and technical study for the project. A senior government official confirmed to The Hindu that the BSF currently relies on Floating Border Outposts (FBOPs) in riverine areas and plans to enhance marine patrolling alongside the fence construction.

BSF Director-General Praveen Kumar visited the Sundarbans from July 11 to 14 to review progress. He met with local residents and government officials as part of a public outreach effort, emphasising that the fence is vital for national security.

Almost 71 km of the proposed fence runs alongside the Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area where construction is normally restricted. The official said that joint inspections with the Department of Irrigation will begin soon.

Local concerns about land acquisition for the fence have been addressed, with assurances of compensation and rehabilitation for affected families and businesses, including hotels and lodges. The official noted that the project gained pace after the change of government in West Bengal, as the previous administration had not allowed joint surveys of the land.

Following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh in August 2024, the BSF stepped up patrolling and deployment along the border to prevent infiltration and cross-border crimes. Although the Sundarbans is not a preferred infiltration route, it is used for transnational crime, leading to additional security measures.

The total length of the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal is 2,216.7 km.