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{{Short description|Joint ceremony at India–Bangladesh border}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Benapole-Petrapole border ceremony
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = bn
| logo =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| logo_size =
| image = Petrapole-Benapole border ceremony location.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Petrapole is situated on the national highway 35 (now NH 112)(Jessore Road) between [[Bangaon]], India and [[Benapole]], Bangladesh.
| status = active
| genre = Military display
| date = Every day
| begins = 
| ends = 
| frequency = Daily
| venue =
| location = [[North 24 Parganas district|North 24 Parganas]], [[West Bengal]]
| coordinates = {{coord|23.0365726|88.8769483|type:event|display=inline,title}}
| country = {{flag|Bangladesh}}<br>{{flag|India}}
| years_active = 6 (since 2013)
| first = {{start date|2013|11|06}}
| founders = [[Border Security Force]] and [[Border Guards Bangladesh]]
| last = 
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| next =
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}}

The '''Petrapole-Benapole joint retreat ceremony''' was inaugurated on 6 November 2013 by the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Indian Home Minister]] at Integrated Check Post (ICP) [[Petrapole]]-[[Benapole]] in the presence of the [[Minister of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|Home Minister of Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web |date=10 December 2013 |title=Retreat Ceremony at Indo–Bangladesh Border |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=101354 |website= |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |ref=Press Release |accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref> It is a daily military exercise, similar to the [[Wagah-Attari border ceremony|Wagah Border ceremony]], and engages soldiers of [[Border Security Force]] (India) and the [[Border Guards Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Satish |date=14 July 2015 |title=India's National Security: Annual Review 2014 |publisher=Routledge India |pages=512 |isbn=978-1138927438}}</ref>

==Events==
The Petrapole-Benapole border ceremony takes place every evening from 16:30 to 17:00. This joint retreat ceremony of 30 minutes resulting in lowering of national flags of India and Bangladesh is jointly conducted by BSF ([[Border Security Force]]) and BGB ([[Border Guards Bangladesh|Border Guard Bangladesh]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=Petrapole set to have a spectacular retreat ceremony |work=Press Release |publisher=Border Security Force |url=http://bsf.nic.in/doc/press/pr69.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722022001/http://bsf.nic.in/doc/press/pr69.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2014 |accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref>

The "Wagah of the East" as it is known, the Petrapole-Benapole border ceremony starts off with opening of gates on India and Bangladesh side.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 March 2011 |agency=PTI |title=India to have a 'Wagah in the East' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news//article60530312.ece |url-access=subscription |website=The Hindu |ref=Newspaper |accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref> After a quick friendly handshake between the BSF and BGB infantrymen, the soldiers march into the "no man's land" in their respective ceremonial dresses and battle dress uniform. Ceremonial theatrics by the BSF and BGB are at the heart of the ceremony and is attended by Military officials of both countries. The ceremonial parade ends before sunset and the flags of either countries are lowered. The gates on either side of the border are closed for the day.

Since the border retreat ceremony was initiated in 2013, not many tourists are aware of this event. The crowd at the ceremony consists mostly of locals and very few tourists. After the retreat ceremony, the BSF jawans pose for a photo shoot with civilians or tourists in their ceremonial dress.

==Location==
Petrapole is on the Indian side of the border with [[Bangladesh]]. The Bangladesh border point is called Benapole. Petrapole is situated 6 km from Bangaon in the North 24 Parganas district of [[West Bengal]]. Petrapole is the largest land custom point in India and Asia.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 November 2010 |title=Chief secretary visits Petrapole border |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Chief-secretary-visits-Petrapole-border/articleshow/6926627.cms? |website=Indiatimes |publisher=The Times of India |accessdate=9 April 2016}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:BSF and BGB.JPG
File:Border Guards Bangladesh.jpg
File:BSF at Petrapole.JPG
File:Lowering of Flags.JPG
File:Lowering of Flag.JPG
File:Photoshoot with BSF.JPG
File:BSF in Ceremonial Dress.JPG
File:Indian BSF at Petrapole Border.jpg
File:Ceremony time parade.jpg
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Benapole Border Crossing]]
* [[Borders_of_India#Border_ceremonies|India-Bangladesh Border Ceremonies]]
* [[Borders of India]]
* [[Attari–Wagah border ceremony]]
* [[India–Myanmar barrier#Look-East Connectivity|Look-East Connectivity projects]]
* [[Look East policy (India)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Vijaita |date=2015-06-05 |title=At Petrapole-Benapole border post, it’s Bangladesh that showcases itself while India waits |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/at-petrapole-benapole-border-post-its-bangladesh-that-showcases-itself-while-india-waits/ |website=The Indian Express}}
* {{Cite web |last=Mekala |first=Dilip Kumar |date=November 2014 |title=Fostering Friendship: The simple joint retreat ceremony at the Indo-Bangladesh border |url=https://forceindia.net/paramilitary/bsf/fostering-friendship/ |publisher=Force India |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=6 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306125115/https://forceindia.net/paramilitary/bsf/fostering-friendship/ |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite web |last=Nizami |first=Nishat |last2=Manna |first2=Sunayani |date=2017-12-17 |title=To a different beat |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/features/to-a-different-beat-1502546358.html |website=The Statesman}}

==External links ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHdSqTPAKjc BSF–BGB Joint retreat ceremony] on [[YouTube]]

{{Symbols of Bangladesh}}
{{Symbols of India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benapole-Petrapole border ceremony}}
[[Category:Petrapole|Ceremony]]
[[Category:Benapole]]
[[Category:Bangladesh–India border crossings]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in Bangladesh]]

Benapole–Petrapole border ceremony - Revision history

MarieDevore: adding new details.