Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday said that Meghalaya’s 443-km international border with Bangladesh is being closely monitored, with security agencies maintaining heightened vigilance at all times. Although border management falls under the jurisdiction of the Central government and the Border Security Force (BSF), the Chief Minister said the state government has implemented all necessary precautionary measures within its capacity.
“The Meghalaya Government, BSF and all other concerned agencies are fully alert,” Sangma said. He revealed that a high-level internal security review meeting was held on December 24, attended by officials from the BSF, the Intelligence Bureau, and other senior authorities, to assess the prevailing security scenario. Sangma noted that no public briefing was issued after the meeting due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, but continuous surveillance has been in place since then.
While stating that there is currently no major cause for concern, the Chief Minister emphasised the need for sustained alertness due to the strategic importance of the international boundary. On border infrastructure, Sangma said fencing work has been completed along most sections of the border, with approximately 30–40 km still unfenced in isolated areas, particularly in West Jaintia Hills and parts of South Garo Hills. He attributed the delay to land acquisition challenges, local opposition, and pending legal cases.
However, he added that many of these issues were addressed during a review conducted about four months ago, resulting in improved progress. The Centre is closely overseeing the remaining work, and he said he remains in constant communication with authorities in New Delhi.
“We are pushing this forward aggressively, and I am hopeful the remaining stretches will be completed soon,” Sangma said.
