Bangladesh has ordered telecom operators to shut down services along the border with India, citing security concerns over India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
Mobile network coverage has been suspended for a one-kilometre-wide band along the border with India until further notice “for the sake of the country’s security in the current circumstances”, officials said in a statement released late on Monday.
Fear of immigration
The move stems from concerns that Indian Muslims might seek to flee to Bangladesh, two officials told Reuters.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the measure.
India’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Bangladesh’s move.
Deeper impact
“The decision to suspend mobile services could impact about 10 million people living on the border,” said a senior official at a mobile phone company in Dhaka.
Indian news website ThePrint on Monday reported that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had sought a written assurance from the Modi government that it would not expel illegal immigrants across the border.
Ms. Hasina’s office was not immediately available to comment on the news report.
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