West Bengal: Fencing Work Begins At India-Bangladesh Border; Locals Welcome BSF Move

Kolkata: The eviction of illegal Bangladeshi Muslims from West Bengal was one of the key issues raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. With the formation of the BJP government in West Bengal under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, dark days have begun for illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators in the state.

What is the status of fencing work on India-Bangladesh border?

Fencing work has commenced along the border shared with Bangladesh to curb infiltration. Following the decision by the West Bengal administration to hand over 27 kilometers of land to the Border Security Force (BSF), fencing is currently being erected along the India-Bangladesh border in the Phansidewa area of ​​the Siliguri subdivision.

This marks a significant step toward bolstering border security in the region. Local residents appeared visibly relieved and happy following the installation of the fencing. One individual remarked that they could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, another resident noted that the atmosphere in the area had previously been quite terrifying.

What did local residents say?

Photographs emerging from the border areas show that the fencing work is proceeding at a rapid pace. Following the long-stalled transfer of land, officials have now begun work on the ground. Anil Ghosh, a local resident, stated, "This is a border area where, previously, there was absolutely no security. The atmosphere here used to be so terrifying that I cannot adequately describe it in words. In the past, we couldn't even rear cattle here. Keeping cattle was tantamount to surrendering oneself to the mercy of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. This was not merely a security concern for West Bengal, but for the entire nation. Today, we feel secure, thanks to the efforts of the new government and the new Chief Minister."

Another resident, Narayan Saha, expressed that the villagers have found relief, adding that previous demands to secure the border had gone entirely unheeded. He stated, "We congratulate this government on the success and prosperity of our village, as we, the residents of this border region, have now found relief from numerous hardships. We had requested the installation of fencing along the border, but for various reasons, that work could not be undertaken previously. Today—ever since Suvendu Adhikari assumed command—the BSF has been granted full operational freedom within just 10 days. All of us villagers are overjoyed. The villagers are extremely happy; they feel as though they can finally breathe freely. We can now sleep in peace."

Meanwhile, another resident, Shivam Modak, characterized this development as a matter of national security. Welcoming the land transfer, he remarked that it would significantly enhance the security infrastructure in the border region. He said, "This is a matter of immense joy. The 27 kilometers of land that the government has allocated to the BSF has allowed us to breathe a sigh of relief. Previously, we felt highly vulnerable due to issues stemming from mutual hostility, as anyone could commit any act at any given moment. This is fundamentally a matter of national security. We had requested this on numerous occasions, but we were consistently informed that the previous state government was unwilling to make the land available."

What did Suvendu Adhikari say?

Suvendu Adhikari also leveled criticism against the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, alleging that it had failed to cooperate in providing the land required for fencing—a lack of cooperation which, according to him, had compromised border security. The Chief Minister further stated that the decision taken during the very first cabinet meeting has set the land transfer process in motion. The land is scheduled to be handed over to the Ministry of Home Affairs within 45 days, following which the BSF will proceed to complete the fencing work.