BSF-BGB Joint Retreat Ceremony flagged off

Fulbari (Indo-Bangla border): Amidst heavy enthusiasm, the Joint Retreat Ceremony by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was flagged off by the Director Generals of BSF and BGB at Fulbari-Banglabandha border on Friday.

"Retreat" signifies the end of the working day. Ceremonies around "retreat" dates back to crusades and was introduced by the French Army.

The Joint Retreat Ceremony was envisaged during DG-level talks in 2013, wherein a proposal was floated as part of confidence-building measure between the two forces and cordial relations between the two countries. A similar DG-level coordination meeting between the two forces has been on since April 23 in Dhaka. On the last day of the meet, the two DGs flagged off the ceremony at Fulbari, 9 km from Siliguri in North Bengal. It will be a regular event henceforth.

Large crowds had gathered on both sides of the border as both Fulbari on the Indian side and Banglabandha on the Bangladesh side, geared up to witness the historic event for the very first time.

While the crowds waited with bated breath for the DGs to arrive and the ceremony to commence, a joint band by the BSF and BBG played both Hindi and Bangla patriotic numbers in perfect harmony.

Exactly at 3:45 pm IST, the ceremonies commenced with the unveiling of the plaque and release of balloons, followed by an eye-catching drill. Though the aggressiveness of the same ceremony at Wagah in Punjab was not to be seen (owing to both the forces enjoying friendly relations), the drill was a display of perfect mutual coordination, synergy and meticulous maneuvers by troops of both the countries.

The drill came to an end at 4:02 pm, with the lowering of the flags of both the countries. 24 troopers each from both the forces, took part in the parade.