Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jun 1: The Border Security Force (BSF) is expected to intensify efforts to relocate villages situated along the zero line of the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, a move aimed at improving border management and strengthening security infrastructure in sensitive frontier areas.
According to senior BSF officials, the proposal has been under consideration for several years and is likely to gain momentum in the coming period. The initiative is being pursued in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which has long advocated the relocation of settlements located extremely close to the international boundary.
Zero-line villages are settlements located within 150 yards of the international border. Their proximity to the boundary often creates significant challenges in constructing border fencing and maintaining effective surveillance. In some instances, Indian villages are located beyond the existing border fence, leaving residents physically isolated from the rest of the country during nighttime hours when border gates remain closed.
Officials said that many residents of these villages face difficulties accessing emergency services and essential facilities after dark. Security agencies also contend that the location of these settlements makes them vulnerable to cross-border criminal activities.
The BSF has maintained that adequate compensation packages have been proposed under the relocation plan. According to officials, the primary responsibility of the state administration would be to identify and acquire suitable land away from the border for resettlement purposes. Agricultural land near the border could continue to be cultivated, with farmers permitted to access their fields during the day.
India shares a 4,096.7-kilometre land border with Bangladesh, of which approximately 2,216.7 kilometres pass through West Bengal, making it the state with the longest stretch of the Indo-Bangladesh frontier.
Security officials estimate that nearly 360 zero-line villages, home to around 70,000 residents, are located along the border in West Bengal. The majority of these settlements are concentrated in the districts of Malda, Murshidabad and Cooch Behar.
Officials argue that the existence of villages close to the border has prevented fencing work in several locations and has complicated surveillance efforts. According to the BSF, such areas are frequently exploited by criminal networks involved in smuggling, illegal immigration, human trafficking and other cross-border offences.
The presence of settlements near the boundary also requires additional deployment of security personnel, as continuous monitoring is necessary to prevent unauthorised movement across the border.
BSF officials expressed optimism that, with coordinated action between the Centre and the state administration, the relocation process could be implemented over the next few years, paving the way for improved border infrastructure and more effective security management along the Indo-Bangladesh frontier.