Published: 12:22 AM, 12 May 2026
PM's Foreign Affairs Adviser reacts over Suvendu’s announcement
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has announced that, upon becoming the Chief Minister of West Bengal, he would move forward with building a fence along the border adjacent to Bangladesh. He also declared that the land required for the fence construction would be handed over to India's Border Security Force (BSF) within the next 45 days.
Reacting initially to the news of such a decision by the prospective new Chief Minister of West Bengal, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir said that countries like Bangladesh can no longer be intimidated by barbed-wire fences.
Speaking to journalists at the Foreign Ministry on Monday (11 May 2026), the Prime Minister's foreign affairs adviser made these remarks in response to a question.
Humayun Kabir said that Dhaka is monitoring the matter. "There is no scope to frighten a country like Bangladesh with barbed wire anymore. The people of Bangladesh are not afraid of barbed-wire fences. Where discussions are necessary, discussions will take place." He also expressed hope that the border situation would never again return to the condition it was in during previous governments.
During the briefing, the issue of the Foreign Minister's visit to China was also raised. In response to a question, the foreign affairs adviser said that there had been positive progress on the Teesta issue during the visit. He also stated that the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank) would provide financing. Although no schedule has been fixed yet, he confirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit China.
>> Saiful Alam, AA
