BGB authorised to use sound grenades, teargas to maintain border security

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been authorised to use sound grenades and teargas shells to maintain security along the border, in light of the recent attacks and clashes between Indian and Bangladeshi citizens at the Chapainawabganj border.

The BGB has also been permitted to procure these items, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury told the media after a meeting of the ministry's advisory council committee on law and order affairs at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Monday (20 January).

"The BGB has always been equipped with deadly weapons, but they have not had non-lethal alternatives like sound grenades or teargas. On 18 January, there were tensions along the Chapainawabganj border, where India's Border Security Forces (BSF) reportedly used teargas and sound grenades. But the BGB did not have these options at their disposal," he said.

While they had lethal weapons, they refrained from using them. To address situations like this, the BGB has now been granted permission to use sound grenades and teargas shells, he added.

Approval has already been given and their procurement will commence shortly, Jahangir said.

He added that it is very important to increase BGB's capacity to maintain order at the country's borders and take quick action in special situations. "That is why BGB is being equipped with state-of-the-art equipment."

BGB's activities will be further strengthened to deal with smuggling, infiltration and other law and order problems in the border areas, said those present at the meeting.

In the past, the home affairs adviser said, the BGB had been equipped solely with lethal weapons, which led to questions about why the force did not use sound grenades or tear gas during border confrontations.

In light of these developments, the government now authorised the purchase of non-lethal crowd control equipment for the BGB, he added.

In comparison, the BSF currently possesses such equipment, giving them an advantage in handling border situations that require non-lethal means of crowd control, he said.

Despite these issues, he said, the border situation remains stable, with no major problems reported at present.

When asked about the border-related agreement with India, the home adviser said progress is slow in things related to foreign affairs.

There will be a conference of the directors general of the BGB and the BSF next month, where these issues will be discussed, he said. Besides, a committee has been formed under the leadership of the home secretary.