Bangladesh will adopt a different ‘tone’ (voice) in its discussions with India at the upcoming Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) – Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG) level border conference, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
“What newness you are looking for! The newness is that the way it was spoken before, this time the tone of speech will be different,” he said while speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
The adviser said that Bangladesh’s stance in the bilateral talks would reflect a shift in approach.
The 55th BGB-BSF DG-level border conference is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from February 17 to 20, with various bilateral border issues on the agenda.
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Ahead of the conference, an inter-ministerial preparatory meeting was held with the Home Affairs Adviser in the chair to finalise Bangladesh’s position.
Key Issues on Agenda
Adviser Jahangir said border killings will be a major focus of the discussions and that stopping the firing on unarmed Bangladeshi civilians by BSF and Indian miscreants is a priority. “This is completely unacceptable.”
Other critical concerns to be raised:
Abductions of Bangladeshis by BSF and Indian miscreants while working near the border.
Illegal border crossings and violations of territorial boundaries.
Drug trafficking, particularly the production and smuggling of Phensedyl and other narcotics from India into Bangladesh.
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Activities within 150 yards of the border, which require joint approval but are often carried out unilaterally.
Environmental concerns, including industrial waste entering Bangladesh from India via Agartala, for which the existing agreement wording needs correction.
Equitable water distribution of smaller transboundary rivers, while larger river issues are handled separately by the Joint River Commission.
Border demarcation disputes, specifically at Muhurir Char in Feni, where setting up border pillars remains unresolved.
Misinformation & Border Management
The adviser talked about false news reports published by Indian media, stating that Bangladesh will raise the issue and discuss ways to stop the spread of misinformation.
Discussions will also focus on the Coordinated Border Management Plan, a crucial framework aimed at enhancing security cooperation between the two countries.
Addressing Unequal Agreements
The Adviser also said that Bangladesh would bring up several past agreements with India that were deemed unequal. “These matters will be discussed. We will say that these agreements should be annulled and that they should have been done differently. Bangladesh had previously raised these concerns through the Foreign Ministry.”
Over Stayers Given Deadline
Regarding foreign nationals overstaying their visas in Bangladesh, the Adviser said that those without valid visas must leave Bangladesh by January 31 after paying fines. “If they remain beyond the deadline, legal action will be taken.”
No Compromise on Core Issues: BGB DG
BGB Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said, “Whether it is border killings, the construction of fences in 150 areas, the Angorpota-Dahagram issue in Chapainawabganj, or river-related problems—these are our main agenda. We will not make any concessions on these matters.”