Bangladesh and India have agreed to take concrete measures to eliminate border killings, strengthen security and enhance cooperation on cross-border issues, following the 55th Border Conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF). The four-day conference (February 17 to 20) in New Delhi, saw a 13-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by BGB Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, engage in discussions with the Indian delegation, headed by BSF Director General Shri Daljit Singh Chawdhary, according to a BGB media release. During the meeting, the BGB chief expressed deep concern over the killings of Bangladeshi citizens along the border and urged BSF to take necessary measures to bring the incidents down to zero. Bangladesh, India want effective border management without any killing In addition, the BSF was requested to inform the appropriate authorities about the construction and renovation of embankments along the banks to prevent erosion of the border river and the unexpected floods caused by opening the embankments upstream in Bangladesh and releasing water without prior notice, said the release. The BGB DG stressed the effective implementation of the ‘Integrated Border Management Plan’ to ensure peace, order and security along the border. In response, BSF reiterated its commitment to a non-lethal policy while upholding human rights and pledged continued cooperation to curb border crimes, including drug trafficking and smuggling. Key outcomes of the conference In order to reduce the incidents of shooting/killing/injuring/beating of unarmed citizens on the border to zero, both sides agreed to intensify joint patrols in vulnerable areas, exchange intelligence promptly, undertake awareness campaigns among border communities and implement socio-economic development initiatives. Any killings along the border will be thoroughly investigated, with necessary measures taken. Dhaka, Delhi eye "good working relations" addressing problems Any construction within 150 yards of the border, including fences and bunkers, will require prior inspection and approval by a joint verification team. Development projects stalled within this zone will be resolved through mutual consultation. Both forces committed to strengthening cooperation in preventing smuggling, particularly of drugs such as Phensedyl, Yaba and cannabis, as well as human trafficking, gold smuggling, illegal weapons trade, and circulation of counterfeit currency. Real-time intelligence sharing was also agreed upon. Both sides will take measures to prevent misunderstandings and tensions caused by illegal border crossings, increasing surveillance and awareness campaigns to prevent unauthorised movements. Stronger efforts will be made to dismantle human trafficking networks, with a focus on the rescue and rehabilitation of victims in accordance with national laws. Besides, establishment of suitable water treatment plants to remove waste water from 4 border canals flowing from Agartala to Akhaura; opening of Rahimpur canal mouth with Kushiyara River in Zakiganj; fruitful discussions were held on the possible location of regional separatist armed terrorist groups and their activities, the release added. EU wants Bangladesh to succeed in its transition from “autocracy to democracy” Both sides praised the implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and pledged to continue collaborative efforts. Plans were also made to conduct joint sports events and a ‘Joint Retreat Ceremony’ to foster mutual trust and cooperation.  

In protest of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) taking a Bangladeshi farmer from the Enayetpur border in Dinajpur, locals from the Bangladesh side apprehended an Indian farmer and handed him over to the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB). Later, in a flag meeting, both were returned to their respective countries’ border forces. This incident occurred on Friday. Tensions had risen along the border, but the issue was resolved peacefully by the concerned authorities. According to locals, six BSF personnel abducted a Bangladeshi citizen named Alamgir from near the 323 main pillar area, adjacent to the Enayetpur BOP camp, at around 10 am on Friday. Alamgir is the son of Aijuddin from the village of Dipnagar. BGB thwarts BSF’s another reported bid to install fence along Joypurhat border After the news spread, locals detained an Indian farmer, Narayan Chandra Roy (45), and handed him over to the BGB. Narayan Chandra Roy is from the Purba Mollapara village in South Dinajpur, West Bengal. Lieutenant Colonel Ahsan Ul Islam, the commander of BGB's 42 Battalion, said, “Five people had crossed into Bangladesh from the Indian side of the border. The BSF mistakenly took Alamgir, thinking he was one of the fugitives they were chasing.” The BSF returned Alamgir to BGB, while Narayan Chandra Roy was handed over to them through a flag meeting at around 3:30pm today, he added.

A sector commander-level meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) was held on Wednesday morning at Sonamasjid border outpost conference room in Chapainawabganj. The 59 BGB Battalion issued a press release after the meeting. According to the press release, the meeting discussed various issues in a friendly environment and the both sides agreed on restricting access of all except farmers within 150 yards of the border. They discussed addressing border-related problems through discussion between the two forces, discouraging trespassing and drug smuggling, and preventing misinformation or rumors by media over border issues. The BGB delegation was led by Rajshahi Sector Commander Colonel Imran Ibne A. Rouf, while DIG Arun Kumar Gautam of the Malda Sector led the BSF team. Read: Flag meeting held between BGB and BSF over Fencing at Naogaon border Lt Col Golam Kibria, Commanding Officer of the 59 BGB Battalion, and Suraj Singh, Commanding Officer of the 119 BSF Battalion were present. Tensions between the two forces recently escalated due to BSF’s alleged construction of a barbed wire fence near the zero line at Chouka border on January 7 and the felling of mango trees in Bangladesh by Indian nationals near the Chouka and Kiranganj border areas on January 18.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) handed over a Bangladeshi national to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Wednesday, a day after he was detained from Beurjhari border area in Thakurgaon's Baliadangi upazila. Sheikh Alimur Rahman, 42, of Khulna was handed over to the BGB through a flag meeting around 6:30 pm, said Lt Col Tanvir Ahmed, commanding officer of BGB Battalion-50. Flag meeting held between BGB and BSF over Fencing at Naogaon border Earlier, a flag meeting was held between BGB and BSF members regarding the issue, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. On Tuesday night, BSF members detained Alimul Rahman about 300 yards inside Indian territory near pillar No. 380/4-S.

Members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) have detained a Bangladeshi man after he crossed the Beurjhari border in Thakurgaon's Baliadangi upazila on Tuesday night. The detainee, Md Alimul Rahman, 42, son of D. Rahman from Khulna, is mentally unstable. Lt Col Tanzir Ahmed, commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said that Alimul was detained and taken to India by the BSF after he trespassed on the border on Tuesday night. Bangladeshi man injured in BSF firing along Patgram border "Efforts are being made to bring him (Alimul) back to Bangladesh," he added. The Bangladeshi national is expected to be returned to the country on Wednesday evening following a flag meeting, according to a BGB official. BSF obstructs reconstruction of mosque at Beanibazar border

For four years, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has blocked Bangladesh's reconstruction of a 200-year-old mosque along the Gajukata border in Beanibazar, Sylhet. As a result, the work that began with laying the foundation and installing pillars has stood still for four years. Higher authorities of the government, including the headquarters of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), have been briefed on the matter.   Despite several meetings between the BGB and BSF, the Indian authorities have not agreed to resumption of the reconstruction work. BNP factional clashes in Gopalganj leave 25 injured International laws do not allow for unilaterally installing any infrastructure within 150 yards of the border's zero-line, the so-called "no man's land". Since the site of the mosque falls within this area, Indian consent would be needed to reconstruct it. However, BSF has been opposing the project for the last four years, after initially agreeing. It is a mirror image of the situation along the border in Chapainawabganj, where BGB has been objecting to the Indians engaging in construction of their much-vaunted border fence within the same 150-yard mark on the Indian side. Although BGB officials previously issued strong protests against the obstruction, communication on the issue has dwindled over the last two years. BGB-52 Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Mehedi Hasan, PPM, said that the current tensions between the two governments in  Delhi and Dhaka have to be resolved above his paygrade, and diplomatic efforts are underway to that end. Local residents explained that the mosque’s structure had deteriorated, with exposed iron rods and a collapsing roof, making it hazardous for prayer. Consequently, the villagers decided to construct a new mosque nearby. Union Parishad member Zainul Islam mentioned that authorities at higher levels were informed, but no action has been taken. He emphasized that the issue requires a state-level decision. BGB intervenes in BSF's attempt to build fence at Lalmonirhat border Former Union Parishad member Aftab Uddin recounted the events leading up to the dispute. Villagers had decided to rebuild the mosque and sought BGB’s support four years ago. Following discussions with BSF, villagers were verbally assured there would be no objection. They collected funds and completed the foundation and pillars. However, when work on the roof began, BSF intervened and halted the project. BGB sources confirmed that BSF initially agreed not to oppose the mosque’s reconstruction during a flag meeting but later reversed their stance. Lt. Colonel Mehedi Hasan said that BSF's objection was not to the reconstruction, but rather against any expansion of the mosque. He added that establishing new structures in such areas requires state-level decisions, which complicates the matter further.

A 25-year-old Bangladeshi man was injured in firing by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Azmatpur border in the Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj early Saturday. The injured is Shahidul Islam, the son of Anarul Islam of Bagichapara of the upazila, said Lt Col Golam Kibria, commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 59th Battalion. BGB intervenes in BSF's attempt to build fence at Lalmonirhat border The incident happened around 2 am when a group of six smugglers, including Shahidul, was returning to Bangladesh from India with a consignment of Phensedyl. The group was approximately 130 yards inside Indian Territory, near the Azmatpur border, said the BGB official. The BSF personnel stationed at a nearby camp opened fire on the group, resulting in Shahidul being shot. His companions managed to rescue him and flee back to Bangladesh, added Lt Col Kibria. Tension over building fence at C’nawabganj border: BGB, BSF hold flag meeting Later, he (Shahidul) was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital by his relatives.

Twelve Bangladeshis, who had illegally entered India two years ago, returned home on Friday after serving time in prison there. The returnees, who were lured by brokers promising better job opportunities, crossed into India through various borders. Eleven of them are men, and one is a woman. According to the Benapole Immigration Police, the individuals were handed over by the Petrapole Immigration Police at around 9pm on Friday through a special travel permit. They were brought across the border to Bangladesh’s Benapole check post, where they were formally received. Benapole Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Imtiaz Bhuiyan said that the group was handed over to the Benapole Immigration Police around 9pm. BSF hands over body of Bangladeshi found on border After completing necessary paperwork, they were transferred to the Benapole Port Police Station. Today, a local NGO, Rights Jashore, took the returnees under their care, he added. The returnees are Ashiqur Rahman (25), Sumon Sarkar (30), Omar Faruk (25), Mizan Sheikh (28), Riazul Islam (25), Belal Molla (28), Sagari Fakir (28), Rabiul Hawlader (25), Moksed Hawlader (30), Rubel Gazi (25), Khalid Hossain (25) and Mosha Regina Khatun (25). They are residents of different districts, including Gazipur, Narsingdi, Chapainawabganj, Madaripur, Satkhira, Narail, Khulna and Bagerhat. Rights Jashore’s Psychosocial Counselor Md Mamun said that the individuals had been lured by brokers seeking employment opportunities, but once in India, they faced detention and imprisonment. With the cooperation of the Indian and Bangladeshi embassies, the Indian government issued special travel permits, allowing the Bangladeshis to return home. On Saturday morning, they were handed over to Rights Jashore, who will provide shelter and eventually reunite them with their families, said Mamun.

Amid tensions between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) of India over the construction of a barbed wire fence by BSF along the Chapainawabganj border a flag meeting was held on Wednesday between the two sides. Lt Col Golam Kibria, Commander of 59 BGB Battalion, said that the BSF started digging soil to build the fence near border pillar 177/2 S in Shibganj upazila two days back. Tension erupts between BGB and BSF over fence construction at Chouka Border As the BGB strongly protested the BSF halted their work twice in response. On Wednesday morning, when the BSF resumed their work, the BGB protested again, leading to the flag meeting. Both sides agreed that no further construction would take place without an agreement between the BGB and BSF headquarters. Lt Col Kibria reassured people  there that  was no cause for concern, as the BGB is guarding the border.

Tension has erupted between the BGB and BSF, the frontier guards of Bangladesh and India respectively, during tre last two days at the Chouka border in Chapainawabganj, centered around the construction of a barbed wire fence. However, the BGB states that the situation is now calm. According to BGB and local sources, BSF members from the Sabdalpur BSF camp of Gopalganj police station in India's Malda district began constructing a barbed wire fence along the border at border pillars 177/1S, 2S, and 3S on Sunday morning. The BGB members intervened, leading to a flag meeting between both sides in the afternoon, but no solution was reached. On Monday, when the BSF resumed the fence construction, the BGB again intervened. After this, the BSF halted the construction of the road. This has caused panic among the local population. Local Union Parishad member Kamal Uddin stated that the BSF was putting up the barbed wire fence along the zero line at around 10am on Monday when the BGB intervened. This has led to heightened tension in the area. Import of Indian goods resumes through Akhaura land port Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, the commander of the 59th BGB battalion, said, “The BSF had started digging for the barbed wire fence, but after the BGB intervention, they stopped the work. The situation is now calm. Additional BGB members have been deployed at the border.” He assured that there is no reason for the general public to be afraid.