Dhaka, Delhi agree border management without killing

Reaffirming the need for synergistic efforts to uphold human rights and curb violence on the border, Bangladesh and India on Thursday agreed to work together with utmost synergy by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, and intensifying public awareness programmes.

The two countries also laid emphasis on undertaking appropriate socio-economic development programmes and sharing of real-time information in order to ensure effective border management without any killing of either side.

Border forces of Bangladesh and India held the director general-level coordination conference in February 17–20 in New Delhi in India and discussed the relevant issues.

The Bangladesh delegation was headed by Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, director general of Border Guard Bangladesh, while the Indian delegation was headed by Daljit Singh Chawdhary, DG BSF.

This highest level talk between the BGB and the BSF are held twice every year – once each in India and Bangladesh, which facilitates both the border guarding forces to establish robust systems through which cooperation in border guarding and border management is ensured.

The BSF is already following the non-lethal policy on the India and Bangladesh border, according to a press statement after the meeting.

Highlighting the importance of coordinated border management plan in curbing trans-border crimes, human trafficking and illegal crossing, both sides agreed to pursue and share real-time information and investigation reports of traffickers, if any.

Both sides also assured to remain extra vigilant to curb such crimes and to put all out efforts to make the border crime-free. The two border forces agreed to help victims of human trafficking and to facilitate their rescue and fastest rehabilitation as per law of the land.

Both sides appreciated the efforts taken for strengthening mutual cooperation through various agreed-upon events under the CBMP.

The two sides appreciated each other’s concerns and committed to settle these issues amicably through continued, constructive and positive engagements at all levels, and they agreed to implement the decisions of the conference at the ground level in true spirit.

Last coordination conference between both the forces was held in Dhaka from March 5 to 9 in the past year.

The BGB’s agendas included preventing border crimes, illegal crossings, and intrusions into Bangladesh territory by the BSF, Indian police, smugglers and other miscreants.

Discussions also covered border killings, infrastructure developments within 150 yards of the international boundary, the establishment of an effluent treatment plant for four canals carrying wastewater from Agartala to Akhaura, border demarcation, pillar survey and construction, riverbank protection works, water sharing, the location of camps, and the movement of armed miscreants inside India.

Besides, both sides addressed the effective implementation of the confidence-building measures, and other relevant activities.

The BSF’s major agenda points included preventing ‘attacks, assaults, or abuse’ on its personnel and Indian civilians by ‘Bangladesh-based criminals and miscreants’, joint efforts to curb trans-border crimes, among others.

Both sides also emphasised the need for coordinated efforts in implementing CBMP, confidence-building measures and other related matters.

Both sides also agreed to intensify coordinated efforts, including increasing joint patrols, particularly during late-night to early-morning hours in vulnerable areas, and raising awareness among border communities about the sanctity of the international boundary.

Both sides agreed to continue with all the bilateral engagements like coordinated joint patrolling, games and sports, joint retreat ceremonies, band display and goodwill visits.

They expressed their satisfaction over the outcome of the conference and reiterated their commitments to work jointly for maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border.

They provisionally agreed to hold the next DG level conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh at a suitable time in July, 2025.

New Age