57th BGB-BSF talks Border deaths, push-in issue top agenda
Border killings and alleged attempts to push people into Bangladesh emerged as the most sensitive issues at the 57th Director General-level Border Coordination Conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF), held in New Delhi from June 8-11.
While the joint statement issued after the four-day meeting highlighted cooperation, coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing, sources familiar with the discussions said Bangladesh placed strong emphasis on bringing border deaths to zero and raised concerns over alleged forcible and undocumented crossings into its territory.
The issues took centre stage during deliberations between the two border forces as both sides reviewed the overall border situation and explored ways to strengthen security and management along the 4,156-kilometre Bangladesh-India frontier.
What the 57th meeting covered
The conference, the highest-level bilateral mechanism between BGB and BSF, discussed a wide range of border-related issues, including border killings, illegal, inadvertent and alleged forcible crossings, trans-border crimes, construction of border infrastructure and implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP).
The two sides also reviewed measures to combat smuggling of narcotics, arms, counterfeit currency, gold and other contraband items, as well as human trafficking and illegal border crossings.
Bangladesh reiterated its concern over deaths along the border and called for effective measures to prevent such incidents, while also raising the issue of alleged attempts to push people across the frontier without following established repatriation procedures.
The delegations further discussed confidence-building measures, enhanced cooperation in tackling emerging security challenges, and mechanisms for maintaining peace and stability in border areas.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to strengthen coordinated patrols, improve real-time information sharing and intensify joint efforts against trans-border criminal networks. They also reaffirmed a policy of zero tolerance towards cross-border crimes and activities that could undermine border security.
The conference ended with the signing of the Joint Record of Discussions, with both sides expressing confidence that the understandings reached would contribute to improved border management and stronger bilateral cooperation.
