November 18, 2002	Monday	Ramazan 12, 1423

DHAKA, Nov 17: Tension gripped Bangladesh’s 238-km border with India at Satkhira, a southern district some 500kms from Dhaka, following a heavy exchange of fire between the border guards of the two countries.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and the Border Security Forces (BSF) of India exchanged heavy fire at two border outposts (BoP) in Satkhira district on Friday night and Saturday.

The BSF fired about 500 rounds of machinegun shots during the clash, while the BDR responded with 300 shots. There were no casualties.

“The problem began with the BSF trying to build a jetty on the other side of the Kalindi, an international river opposite the Kaikhli BoP, at 9pm,” a BDR commander said. “The BSF made the attempt in clear violation of an earlier flag meeting decision. The Indian side agreed, at the end of two flag meetings, held on Nov 13 and 15, to refrain from constructing the jetty.”