Terror attack in Bangladesh: BSF on high alert

Agartala, March 27 (IANS) The Border Security Force (BSF) has sounded a high alert all along the India-Bangladesh border in view of a terror attack in the neighbouring country, an officer said here on Monday.

"Strict alert has been sounded all along the 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border. BSF troopers have been asked to maintain a close vigil along the international boundaries," BSF Deputy Inspector General Hardeep Singh told IANS in Agartala.

"BSF troopers have been asked to keep maximum vigil along those border territories where fencing is yet to be erected. Along with the BSF, dog and bomb squads were also deployed on the frontier," he added

The India-Bangladesh border lies along five states - West Bengal (2,216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km). Some portions of the borders are reverine.

Over 90 per cent of Tripura's 856 km border has been fenced and work is on in the remaining portion.

"With some women personnel, over 18 BSF battalions have been deployed along the Tripura borders," Singh added.

Bangladesh media reported that two police officials, two terrorists are among the eight dead in the two blasts at a militant hideout in Bangladesh's Sylhet city.

Bangladesh Army and commandos cordoned off the five-storey building where the terrorists were holed up inside.

The elite Rapid Action Battalion is also involved in the operation 'Twilight' which continued for the fourth day on Monday. Seventy-eight people trapped inside the building complex were evacuated amid cover firing.

A Tripura police official said that the Mobile Task Force (MTF) personnel and other state security forces were also asked to keep a close watch in the border villages.

The police official said that Bangladesh's Sylhet district shares borders with Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya.