Although the guards claimed borders were secure, local residents alleged that cross-border smuggling had increased in recent days as the BDR soldiers were guarding the borders amid anxiety.
The visits also found that nayek subedars were commanding soldiers in the border outposts and subedars in company offices.
Some nayek subedars and subedars told New Age they were commanding the soldiers in guarding the borders at the directive of their officers in the army. The officers sometimes visit the outposts and company offices, they said.
Expressing disappointment at the government move for the BDR reorganisation, the border guards said they were anxious about their jobs and future after they came to know of the move from media reports and their fellows.
The Bangladesh Rifles has become an icon of national security for the performance of the soldiers since Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971, they said, adding the paramilitary force should not be destroyed in the name of reorganisation.
They also differed with the views expressed by some ministers about taking help from neighbouring countries for the reorganisation of the Bangladesh Rifles.
Such a move will be disastrous for the national security, they said.
It will be better not to change the name, uniform and the logo of the force, they said, adding that the people involved in the rebellion and the killing should be punished in an open, fair trial, but innocent soldiers should in no way be harassed.
They also observed the rebellion had resulted from longstanding grievances of soldiers and such grievances should be addressed properly to stop the recurrence of any such incident.
The New Age correspondent in Khulna said a soldier, working in the Bhomra frontier, said, 'We are patriots. We have proved it by working in remote frontiers. So the Bangladesh Rifles should not be destroyed in the name of reorganisation.'
'As members of a disciplined force, we have nothing to do but to follow all the government decisions,' said a havildar working in the Satkhira border.
Qualitative changes can be brought about in the Bangladesh Rifles, but it would be better not to change the name, uniform, logo and moto as the force has a long, glorious past, he said, adding the people involved in the rebellion and killing should be punished.
A nayek subedar said they were worried about their jobs and future.
The correspondent in Sylhet said the border guards in the outposts of Tamabil, Shreepur and Jaintapur seemed anxious.
When they were asked about their condition, they said the countrymen knew well about the situation they were facing.
A soldier said, 'We hope the government finally will make a positive decision about the Bangladesh Rifles.'
Another soldier said they had lost their moral strength after the rebellion and the government move to restructure the Bangladesh Rifles. 'We want to serve the nation as we earlier did.'
Help from neighbouring countries for BDR reorganisation will not be wise 'as they are our counterparts,' he said.
Tamabil company commander nayek subedar Zaynal Abedin and Jaintapur border outpost commander nayek subedar Younus claimed that the frontiers were secure.
Local residents of frontier upazilas such as Companiganj, Jaintapur, Goainghat, Kanaighat and Jakiganj, however, said the guards could not discharge their responsibilities properly as they were anxious about their future.
A lcoal trader of Shantinagar near the Sangrampunji BDR camp at Tambil, said the guards could not work properly for which goods smuggling increased.
According to sources in the Bangladesh Rifles, officials of the Sylhet sector headquarters are not so active in overseeing the activities of border guards in frontiers.
Operation officer of the 21 Rifles Battalion under the Sylhet sector headquarters, Major Benjir, however, claimed their supervision of the border situation and efforts to curb smuggling remained normal.
The correspondent in Jessore said the solders at the Benapole check post were performing their duties anxiously being panicked about their future.
A number of Benapole port policemen said the border guards were panicked about being arrested, although the guards doing their duties in the frontiers were not involved in the rebellion.
The BDR soldiers said they were worried about their job as the government initiated a move to restructure the Bangladesh Riles.
A soldier on guard near the border said, 'We have noting to do, but to hope that what the government does may be good for us.'
Another soldier said, 'What can we expect but that the government should not do anything to the soldiers who were not involved in the rebellion?'
There are 13 BDR outposts along the Benapole border where about 80 solders perform their duties.
A labour leader of the area told New Age all the BDR soldiers along the border were panicked about their future.
The correspondent in Lalmonirhat said almost all of the soldiers on guard along the border of the district had expressed their dissatisfaction at BDR reorganisation.
Some solders of the Moghalhat outpost camp in Lalmonirhat seemed worried. A soldier said they were not satisfied at the reorganisation of the Bangladesh Rifles.
Some soldiers at the Durgapur outpost camp at Aditmari and Baniyatari said they were facing problems in border villages after the rebellion as the local residents insulted them.
Change in name, uniform, moto and logo of the Bangladesh Rifles will only add to the insult of the soldiers, they said
