India has been planning to erect both temporary and permanent barriers along the roughly 400 km of unfenced international border in south Bengal amid tense relations with Bangladesh.

“Both the central as well as the state govt are working in tandem to fix the situation. The land is being acquired at multiple places near the unfenced areas, and we are in the process of completing the fencing work at the majority of these places,” said a report by The Times of India, quoting a senior official of Border Security Forces (BSF), South Bengal Frontiers, as saying. According to the official, the BSF has been erecting temporary barriers using its own funds in locations where permanent fencing was not feasible because of specific limitations. “No permanent construction or fencing is allowed within 150 yards of the international border. If we want to do so, permission is required from Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB). Hence, multiple such meetings are also underway,” the official said.

In the meantime, the BSF has heavily relied on a hybrid strategy that combines traditional methods with cutting-edge technology to increase security at India's unfenced international border with Bangladesh to prevent any more possible illegal crossings, human trafficking, and smuggling. Night vision cameras, motion detectors and improvised alarms are being used to strengthen surveillance at the India-Bangladesh international border to prevent any possible infiltration. “In the unfenced areas our jawans have themselves improvised the fence using wire,” a report by The Indian Express quoted an official as saying. “We use optimum manpower, technology and resources to prevent smuggling and human trafficking,” the official further said. 

The South Bengal Frontier of the BSF, which guards a 913-kilometer section of the India-Bangladesh international border, has been heavily utilising electronic surveillance in addition to more traditional techniques like sentry posts and foot patrols, according to the source cited in the IE piece. According to the official, 350 square feet of the 913-kilometer South Bengal border are unfenced. To ensure a clear view of the area and prevent any hiding spots, regular maintenance is carried out, including cleaning and grass trimming. The official added that night vision cameras and LED lights have been mounted on bamboo sticks to improve visibility and awareness, providing 24/7 surveillance. “The area is monitored by night vision cameras, including fixed bullet cameras and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, capable of observing movement up to one kilometre away. All of these are connected to live feeds in the control room, enabling rapid response to any potential threats,” an official quoted in the IE report said.

To enhance security, tripwires at the India-Bangladesh border are designed to activate loud alarms and set off flares when disturbed or touched by an intruder, whether intentionally or unintentionally. These tripwires are connected to live feeds in the control room, enabling a quick response to potential threats, even in challenging terrains and riverine areas. Electronic surveillance technologies, such as motion-sensitive sensors and 360-degree rotating cameras, have been implemented for improved sentry monitoring. If someone attempts to tamper with the camouflage surrounding the device, these sensors will sound an alarm. “Technology, manpower and resources are filling up the gaps. All movements along the border are continuously monitored at control rooms, from where directives are issued to on-duty sentries. To ensure a measured response, BSF personnel are equipped with pump action guns (PAGs), non-lethal weapons, while on sentry duty,” an official was quoted as saying in the IE report.

Moreover, smart fences are covered with netting up to 20 feet long to stop things from being thrown over the boundary. During heavy rains in the monsoon, the BSF faces major challenges in maintaining security near the Betna River in Petrapole, as the area often gets flooded. To tackle this, the border force has adopted a multi-layered strategy. They have set up improvised fencing made of bamboo and copper wire to prevent movement. Additionally, LED lights have been mounted on bamboo sticks, all connected to the control room of the Border outpost. “Conditions become more challenging during the monsoons as the Betna River flowing along the border and other water bodies in this area overflow owing to heavy rain,” an official said. Bangladesh and India have a vast 4,096-kilometer border. A 2,216-kilometer section of this runs parallel to West Bengal.