The 56th Director General (DG)-level border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India's Border Security Force (BSF) concluded in Dhaka on Thursday with both sides signing a Joint Record of Discussions (JRD) and pledging stronger cooperation to ensure peace and stability along the 4,096-km frontier.
Indiscriminate shootings and killings of Bangladeshi nationals by BSF personnel and Indian citizens dominated the four-day talks held from August 25-28.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by BGB DG Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, while BSF DG Shri Daljit Singh Chaudhary headed the Indian side.
Briefing reporters after the conference, the BGB chief said Bangladesh expressed deep concern over recurring border killings. In response, the BSF chief reiterated his force's commitment to taking additional precautionary measures and intensifying night patrols in vulnerable areas.
Both sides also agreed to launch joint awareness campaigns, promote socio-economic development initiatives in frontier areas, respect border sanctity, and prevent cross-border crimes with the aim of reducing killings to zero.
Asked about border shootings, BSF DG Chaudhary said his force has been trying not to use lethal weapons for the past 15 years. He claimed that in the first six months of this year alone, 35 BSF members were seriously injured in sharp-weapon attacks by infiltrators. "Along the border, BSF members first warn, then try to prevent, and only as a last resort are shots fired," he said.
However, the BGB chief disagreed, noting that BSF personnel recently shot dead a Bangladeshi youth in broad daylight. "How risky was the child for the border security force?" he asked.
On the issue of "push-ins" of individuals, including Indian nationals and Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN), the Bangladesh side raised objections and urged adherence to repatriation procedures.
The BSF chief assured that Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in India would be repatriated through agreed processes. But when pressed on push-ins, he avoided a direct reply, saying that "illegal Bangladeshis" were being handed over to authorities through due process. He added, "So far, 550 people have been handed over to the BGB, and verification of 2,400 more cases is ongoing with cooperation from the Bangladesh High Commission."
The JRD also underscored the importance of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) in combating smuggling of narcotics, arms, explosives, gold, counterfeit currency, and other contraband. Both sides pledged to remain vigilant, share real-time information, and take stronger action against such crimes.
Other agreements include: Refraining from development activities within 150 yards of the zero line without prior approval; Expediting border development projects; Facilitating riverbank protection works approved by the Joint Rivers Commission; Preventing unauthorised activities in common rivers; On the "Connected Bangladesh" project, the BSF DG said he would raise the issue of installing an optical fiber network in Dahagram via the Tin Bigha Corridor with the relevant Indian ministries.
Both forces also reiterated zero tolerance against armed insurgents and terrorist activities, stressed the need for permanent border pillars at Muhurir Char and proper demarcation of border rivers, and agreed to share information to prevent airspace violations.
Additionally, they committed to advising their respective media not to spread misleading reports that could fuel border tensions.
Both DGs expressed satisfaction with the conference outcome and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation to ensure lasting peace and stability along the frontier.
