Following days of heightened tension along the Bangladesh-India border near Lalmonirhat, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been granted permission to use sound grenades and tear gas to manage border incidents.

The announcement was made on Monday (January 20) by Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury during a press briefing. He stated that BGB traditionally relied on lethal weapons and lacked access to non-lethal options like sound grenades and tear gas, which raised concerns during recent border conflicts. With this new approval, the necessary equipment will be procured for the force to ensure better control in such situations.

The advisor noted that the border situation has largely stabilized but pointed out that the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has already been using sound grenades. He emphasized the importance of equipping BGB with non-lethal tools to address issues such as smuggling, illegal crossings, and maintaining law and order in border areas. Steps to strengthen BGB's activities in these areas were discussed in recent meetings, and the procurement process for the required equipment will begin promptly.

On the issue of foreigners overstaying in Bangladesh, the advisor revealed that 49,226 individuals were previously identified as living illegally in the country, a number that has since reduced to 33,648. These individuals were given until January 31 to regularize their status or leave. He also stated that Tk. 10.53 crore in revenue had been collected from these cases. Employers found providing jobs to undocumented foreigners without proper permissions will face legal consequences.

Efforts are ongoing to address these challenges, ensuring border security and compliance with immigration laws while enhancing the operational capacity of BGB.