Diplomatic Correspondent :
Tensions between Bangladesh and India continue to escalate following a series of incidents along the shared border, prompting serious diplomatic and humanitarian concerns.
Since the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus assumed office in August last year, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration amid a mass uprising, the Indian government has reportedly adopted a series of measures perceived by Dhaka as undiplomatic and harmful to bilateral relations.
These include the continued killings of Bangladeshi nationals by India’s Border Security Force (BSF), illegal cross-border push-backs, and restrictions on trade via the closure of land ports to Bangladeshi goods.
Additionally, India has suspended visa services for Bangladeshi patients and travellers, curbing longstanding people-to-people connections.
The most recent border fatalities occurred on Friday night and early Saturday morning in Sunamganj’s Dowarabazar upazila and Thakurgaon’s Haripur upazila respectively.
According to reports, Shafiqul Islam (45), a resident of Bhangerpara in Dowarabazar, was fatally shot by BSF personnel while allegedly attempting to return from Indian territory with cattle. Lt Colonel AKM Zakaria Kadir of Sunamganj BGB-28 Battalion stated that a group of 10-12 individuals had entered around 500 yards into Indian land.
Upon their return, a confrontation ensued involving stone-throwing, prompting BSF to reportedly use sound grenades and open fire. Shafiqul later died from his injuries at Dowarabazar Upazila Health Complex.
In a separate incident, Mohammad Rasel (20), of Rajbari in Haripur upazila, was shot dead near the Minapur border around 4am Saturday. Locals reported that Rasel and several others had approached the Indian barbed-wire fence when BSF personnel opened fire. His body was allegedly taken into Indian territory.
Rasel’s father claimed his son had been missing for two days and may have been lured to the border with financial incentives. Lt Colonel Abdullah Al Moeen Hasan, commander of BGB-42 Battalion in Dinajpur, confirmed the incident and noted that a flag meeting with BSF counterparts has been proposed.
Haripur Police confirmed reports of the incident but could not provide further details.
According to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 25 Bangladeshi nationals have been killed by BSF in 2024 alone, adding to 594 fatalities reported between 2009 and 2023.
Experts note that socio-economic vulnerabilities often drive individuals to risk their lives along the border. “People involved in cattle or gold smuggling are often extremely poor,” said Prof Morsalin of Dhaka University’s Department of International Relations.
“They risk everything for as little as Tk 20,000 to support their families, while the ringleaders remain beyond the reach of law enforcement.”
Further straining relations, Bangladesh’s Border Guard and government agencies have reported over 1,600 illegal push-backs from India between 7 May and 24 June, including 110 Indian citizens and 64 Rohingya refugees. Many of these individuals reportedly spoke Bengali, leading to disputes over nationality.
The Bangladeshi government has urged New Delhi to halt such actions and resolve related issues diplomatically if any illegal Bangladeshi nationals are identified in India. However, authorities claim these requests have gone unanswered.
Trade relations have also been affected, with India reportedly closing several land ports to Bangladeshi products, disrupting shipments and affecting local businesses.
In a separate but related controversy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently stated that individuals writing “Bengali” as their language in the upcoming census would be classified as “foreigners,” implying Bangladeshi origin.
The remark has triggered backlash from Bengali-speaking communities and raised concerns over ethnic discrimination and the targeting of linguistic minorities.
These developments have heightened tensions along the Bangladesh-India border, complicating diplomatic engagement and exacerbating an already sensitive situation involving identity, migration, and cross-border conflict.
