Border Guard Bangladesh is planning to set up an air wing as part of an increase in vigiliance against cross-border crime.  Their prime focus is drug trafficking across the borders with Myanmar and India (particulary Yaba), where there is a 400km unfenced and unguarded and border.  The apparent inaccessibility of this border

BGB Director General Brig Gen Aziz Ahmed said recently that a proposal has been sent to the home ministry without elaborating on details.  However, it has also emerged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has verbally approved the plans, citing intrusion of of the drug Yaba from Myanmar was now Bangladesh’s biggest threat.  The second biggest threat is said to be the drug Phensedyl from India, according to Department of Narcotics Control statistics

The BGB is going through a phase of notable increase, and there are plans for 107 new BGB camps along the border.  72 of these are in areas of difficult access and will be supported by helicopters.  Plans exist for four helicopters to be purchased, but no details are available on planned size or capabilities of each.  No aspects of this BGB expansion plan yet appear on the organisation’s tender list.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com