South Bengal Frontier, Border Security Force organised a joint retreat ceremony with Border Guard Bangladesh at International Border checkpost at petrapole in North 24 parganas on saturday in the evening from 0425 PM to 0440 PM.
The joint retreat ceremony started at petrapole in 2013 but was suspended in 2020 after covid-19 led to restriction at the border. It is now being restarted.
The ceremony is in line with the the one that takes place at Wagah (along the Indo Pakistan border). It is a social and cultural event on zero line after which the BSF and BGB bring down their national flag in the evening.The atmosphere is cordial and celebratory in keeping with the relation between India and Bangladesh.
The retreat ceremony began on November 6 2013 with a full fledged cultural event that involved rendition of song of Rabindranath Tagore and kazi Nazrul Islam. Tributes where are also paid to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi who was instrumental in the liberation of Bangladesh. According to the BSF the event is a big draw for people of both countries who pass the check post. Several people visit bangaon at petrapole specifically to watch the ceremony.
The Public Relations Officer, South Bengal Frontier issued a statement saying, ” The Joint Retreat ceremony in Petrapole will be held regularly twice a week (Tuesday, Saturday)”.
