Guwahati, May 13: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday welcomed the West Bengal Cabinet’s decision to hand over land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, describing it as a crucial step for safeguarding Assam and the wider North East.

Speaking at a press conference after chairing the first cabinet meeting of his second term, Sarma stressed that strict vigilance and closure of the border were essential for regional security. He noted that Assam’s efforts to combat infiltration had long been hindered by gaps in fencing along the Bangladesh-West Bengal frontier.

“Many organisations in Assam demand that the border be sealed in the state, but this is meaningless without a similar closure in West Bengal,” Sarma remarked. He pointed out that while five states share the India-Bangladesh border Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, and West Bengal Assam has the smallest stretch, whereas West Bengal has the longest.

According to Sarma, the Bengal Cabinet’s decision to provide land within 45 days for fencing an 800-kilometre stretch would allow the BSF to secure the border comprehensively. He described the move as “heartening news” for Assam, adding that infiltration could not be curbed without a nationalist government in West Bengal.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the decision taken by the Bengal Cabinet, particularly by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari,” Sarma said, noting that border security had been a central theme of his campaign during the Bengal elections. He called the development “historic” and praised the Bengal government for addressing a long-standing demand that directly impacts the security of the North East.