Declare 10 miles from border as BGB estate: HC

The High Court has recommended 10-kilometre land from the border line as the property of Border Guard Bangladesh.

An HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal on Saturday gave the suggestion in its full judgement in a smuggling case.

The case was filed by BGB (formerly Bangladesh Rifles) following the recovery of Indian sharis at the Jashore border during an anti-smuggling operation in 1987.

The full text of the HC verdict, released on July 11, said the 8km land from the border line will remain empty so that every inch of this land is clearly visible from 8km away.

The land between 8km and 10km from the border line should be kept reserved for all establishments and activities of the BGB, the HC said.

Once the area is declared as BGB property, the authorities should assess the losses of the private property owners and provide them with Khas land of equivalent value, it said.

The HC directed the Supreme Court registrar general to send a copy of the judgement and order to all MPs, lower court judges, the director general of BGB, and the home secretary through e-mails.

Meanwhile, the HC acquitted accused Zakir Hossain of smuggling charges and scrapped the three-year jail sentence handed to him by the trial court concerned.