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Published : 28 Aug 2025, 05:41 PM
The chiefs of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have offered sharply different explanations on why BSF troops continue to open fire along the frontier, where dozens of Bangladeshis have been killed over the years.
At the closing press conference of the 56th BGB-BSF director general-level border conference at Pilkhana, BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary said his forces resort to firing only as a “last measure” when intruders armed with sharp weapons attack them.
He cited 35 serious injuries to BSF personnel in the first six months of this year alone.
But BGB chief Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui challenged that rationale, pointing to a recent incident where BSF troops shot dead a Bangladeshi teenager in broad daylight. “How much of a threat was that child to border security?” he asked.
The four-day talks, which began on Aug 25, addressed border killings, Indian “push-in” practices, narcotics and counterfeit currency smuggling, and other bilateral concerns. The BGB chief apologised for the news briefing starting nearly two hours late, saying discussions had run “unexpectedly long”.
On the push-in issue, Chawdhary claimed that only those living illegally in India were being returned to Bangladesh “following proper procedures”. He said 550 people had already been handed over to BGB, with another 2,400 cases under review.
Asked why Bengali-speaking Indian citizens and even some Rohingya had been pushed into Bangladesh, Chawdhary insisted the process was conducted “through lawful channels”. He added that if any Indian citizens were wrongly sent across, India would take them back upon proper notification.
Pressed on whether religion or language was being used as criteria, he said: “We have a well-established channel for deportation between the two countries for violations of border laws. If anyone is an Indian citizen, they are accepted back immediately.”
Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said the two sides gave “highest priority” in the talks to stopping border killings. Both pledged to halt the use of lethal weapons at the frontier, to strengthen night patrols in vulnerable areas, and to prevent a recurrence of shootings.
He said the forces also agreed to launch joint awareness campaigns, promote socio-economic development projects in high-risk border areas, and work together to uphold the sanctity of the frontier while preventing criminals from exploiting it.
According to Siddiqui, the aim is to reduce killings, assaults and cross-border abuses to zero.
The summary of discussions based on the agenda of the conference is as follows:
a. DG BGB expressed deep concern over indiscriminate shootings and killings of innocent Bangladeshi nationals by BSF and Indian citizens along the border. In response, DG BSF reiterated his commitment to preventing the recurrence of border killings by adopting additional precautionary measures and intensifying night patrols in vulnerable border areas. Both sides agreed to undertake joint awareness programmes, implement socio-economic development initiatives in vulnerable areas, promote respect for border sanctity, and prevent cross-border movement of criminals with the objective of reducing such incidents to zero.
b. DG BGB raised concerns over illegal push-ins of individuals, Indian nationals and Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) into Bangladesh by BSF. He emphasised adherence to established procedures for the repatriation of illegal entrants. In reply, DG BSF assured that Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in India would be repatriated following mutually agreed processes.
c. Highlighting the importance of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) in curbing the menace of smuggling various types of drugs and narcotics, fire arms, ammunitions, explosives, gold, fake Indian currency note (FICN) and other contraband items, both sides agreed to remain cautious and steadfast to stop smuggling through sharing of real time information, investigation reports of traffickers and remaining extra vigilant to curb such crimes.
d. Both sides agreed to take effective measures to prevent the border populace from engaging in cross-border crimes such as illegal intrusion, smuggling, human trafficking, breaching border pillars and other transboundary offences. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the sanctity of the International Border.
e. Both sides agreed not to undertake any development activities within 150 yards of the zero line without prior approval, and to expedite completion of ongoing development works in border areas. Both sides also agreed to facilitate Joint Rivers Commission–approved riverbank protection works and to prevent unauthorised activities in common rivers along the border.
f. Regarding the 'Connected Bangladesh' Project to expedite completion of the installation of optical fibre networks connecting Dahagram through the Tin Bigha Corridor, DG BSF assured to place the issue before the concerned ministries/agencies of India to solve it.
g. Both delegations reiterated their ‘Zero Tolerance’ stance against any armed insurgent groups operating across the border and agreed to take necessary measures to prevent any kind of terrorist activities through real-time information sharing.
h. The BGB Director General stressed the need for permanent construction of border pillars at Muhurir Char in Feni and the demarcation of the border along Ichhamati, Kalindi, Raimangal, and Hariabhanga rivers. DG BSF assured to refer these matters to the relevant ministries/agencies of India for resolution.
i. Both sides agreed to refrain from any kind of airspace violation. To avoid any misunderstanding in the future, both sides consented to share real-time information regarding pre-scheduled flights and keep each other informed.
j. Both sides agreed to advise their respective media not to spread contradictory, misleading propaganda or rumours against each other that may create tension along the border.
