Pleasantries were exchanged, the bugle was sounded, and troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) snapped to attention after marching past dignitaries and a crowd of people.

The occasion was the inauguration of the Joint Retreat Ceremony of the BSF and the BGB on the Fulbari-Banglabandha border near Siliguri on Friday. While Fulbari is located near Siliguri, Banglabandha falls on the Bangladesh side of the border here.

As part of the ceremony that will continue from tomorrow, march-past and lowering of the national flag of both the countries will be a regular thing just before sundown. The entire exercise will continue for 20 minutes, officials said.

BSF and BGB officials said they were hopeful that the cordial relations between the two countries would strengthen further through this event, which is the third such retreat on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Two other retreat ceremonies are held on the borders at Petrapole-Benapole and Agartala-Akhaura, apart from one at the Attari-Wagah border with Pakistan. BSF director general Krishan Kumar Sharma and his counterpart Major General Shafeenul Islam jointly inaugurated the event by unveiling a plaque and releasing balloons.

Many senior officials and dignitaries were present on the occasion. The programme began on a colourful note, with bands of both the border guarding forces playing some Bengali songs like ‘Dhonodhanney Pushpe Bhora’ and ‘Mongol Dip Jele,’ among some other patriotic songs.

After the event, the BSF band played ‘Chalte Chalte, Mere Ye Geet Yaad Rakhna’. A resident of Siliguri and writer, Bipul Das, said he was delighted to be part of the historic event. “Historically, we have been close to the people of Bangladesh. We share the same culture, language and heritage. I felt the event has brought us closer,” he said.

The retreat started at 3.47 pm and continued till 4.05 pm, while 18 personnel each from the BSF and BGB participated in the actual ceremony. A class VIII student of the Fulbari High School, Toeb Ali, and his friend Md Sadiq said they were very happy to see the event.

BSF DG, Mr Sharma, said it was another positive step in improving India- Bangladesh relations. He added that in the director general- level talks in Dhaka between the BSF and BGB, it was decided that both the forces would work to ensure peaceful environment along the borders.

“There have been very cordial relations between the BSF and the BGB. The DG-level talks have completed on Friday. We have decided to work jointly to maintain peaceful situation along the borders and we will end all criminal activities. We have strengthened deployment and introduced technical equipment in areas and educated the local populace. We will also introduce crimefree zones by identifying the areas,” he said.

Mr Sharma added that the Fulbari border area would be developed as an important tourist spot, now that the joint retreat ceremony has been introduced. “We are hopeful of introducing such joint retreats at more borders points. This area will be developed as an important tourist spot and people will come here to watch the retreat ceremony like the one at Wagah border,” he added.

Officials said both the BSF and the BGB are planning to construct viewers’ gallery and museum to showcase their achievements and legacies. BGB DG, Mr Islam, said the development was part of the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries. “Gradually, we will try to introduce the ceremonies at some other places too,” he said.