Atrocities of BSF/How BGB responds

[Saif]

ভারতীয় গণমাধ্যমের ব্যাপারে বিএসএফ'র স্বীকারোক্তি (BSF has finally acknowledged that the Indian media had exaggerated the issue of attacks on minority Hindus in Bangladesh and their subsequent infiltration into India.)

 

[Saif]

BGB stops BSF from erecting fence in border

The Border Guard Bangladesh on Sunday obstructed the Indian Border Security Force’s attempt to erect a barbed wire fence and install iron poles along the Dahagram border in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila.

www.newagebd.net

BGB stops BSF from erecting fence in border
Our Correspondent . Lalmonirhat 02 March, 2025, 23:44

The Border Guard Bangladesh on Sunday obstructed the Indian Border Security Force’s attempt to erect a barbed wire fence and install iron poles along the Dahagram border in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila.

The Indian force made the attempt once again in violation of international border laws, escalating tension in the surrounding areas.

Earlier on January 10, the BSF attempted to construct a barbed wire fence on the same border, drawing the attention of the local people.

According to BGB and locals, the BSF members again started constructing a barbed wire fence and installing iron poles at the night following February 28.

BGB Rangpur 51 Battalion’s Panbari company commander Subedar Lutfar Rahman said that the construction of the fence was stopped on Sunday morning after a flag meeting with the members of the BSF.

‘Tension has arisen along the border due to the incident. BGB patrolling and surveillance on the border is going on,’ he said.​

 

[Saif]

Delhi must deliver on its border management pledges

THE killing of a Bangladeshi national a week after the BGB-BSF coordination conference, where the Indian border force reaffirmed that they would bring the number of border killings to zero, is deplorable. In the...

www.newagebd.net

Delhi must deliver on its border management pledges
04 March, 2025, 00:00

THE killing of a Bangladeshi national a week after the BGB-BSF coordination conference, where the Indian border force reaffirmed that they would bring the number of border killings to zero, is deplorable. In the director general-level coordination conference between the Border Guard Bangladesh and Border Security Force of India held in New Delhi on February 17–20, both forces came to a consensus that they would coordinate among themselves in border management and bring border killing to zero. Violating the pledge, the BSF killed a Bangladeshi youth on February 28 along the Bangladesh-India border at Kasba, Bramanbaria. Similar pledges were, in fact, made earlier by the Indian border guards, only to be violated. In 2024 alone, at least 30 Bangladeshis were shot dead by BSF, while over 1,300 Bangladeshis were killed by Indian guards in 2000–2023. What is also gravely problematic is the claim made by Indian authorities that their border guards kill ‘criminals’ and ‘smugglers’ on the border. Cross-border smuggling happens on the Bangladesh-India border and such smuggling involves people from both sides of the border, and there are agreements and international laws to be followed in dealing with smugglers and no laws allow any forces to pursue a shoot-to-kill policy.

The Indian border guards have, meanwhile, again attempted to erect fences on the zero line in violation of laws and bilateral agreements. The BSF attempted to erect a barbed wire fence and install iron poles along the Dahagram border in Lalmonirhat on the night of February 28. The construction of the fence was later stopped after a flag meeting with the BGB. Earlier on January 10, the BSF attempted to construct a barbed wire fence on the same border. The Indian border force also attempted to construct barbed wire or iron electric fences along the border in Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj, and Naogaon. While laws and agreements stipulate that no permanent structures or fences, except for agricultural activities, can be placed within 150 yards of the border pillars of either country without mutual consent, the BSF has attempted to construct fences in a number of places since the final week of December 2024, creating tensions along the border. All this appears to be a deliberate attempt to create tensions on the border during a transitional period that Bangladesh is undergoing. This also strains the already strained bilateral relations between the two neighbours.

The disregard for international border control protocol by the Indian guards is a major obstacle to fostering good relations between Bangladesh and India. While both countries, especially the border forces, work together to ease border tension, the Indian authorities need to deliver on their pledges and honour the bilateral agreements and laws in border management.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh national killed in BSF firing near Panchagarh frontier

A Bangladesh national was killed in firing by the Indian Border Security Force at a location in Indian territory, adjacent to the Bhitargarh border under Sadar upazila in Panchagrah early Saturday.

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh national killed in BSF firing near Panchagarh frontier
Our Correspondent . Panchagrah 08 March, 2025, 16:13

A Bangladesh national was killed in firing by the Indian Border Security Force at a location in Indian territory, adjacent to the Bhitargarh border under Sadar upazila in Panchagrah early Saturday.

The border killing victim is Al Amin, 36, of Harivasan union under Panchagarh Sadar upazila.

The news of the border killing came a day after a Bangladeshi youth, Shahed Miah, 25, of Mangalpur under Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet, was beaten to death by Indian Khasias on the Sylhet border early Friday.

Border Guard Bangladesh officials said that a group of about 20 people, including Al-Amin, entered Bhatpara village in India to bring cows to Bangladesh illegally at about 3:00am on Saturday.

They said that when the group entered Indian territory, BSF personnel opened fire targeting the group and a bullet hit in the chest of Al-Amin, leaving him dead on the spot.

BGB 56th battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Mohammad Badruddoja said that the incident took place at Abalupara, approximately 50 yards inside India.

‘We held a flag meeting and lodged strong protest against the killing of the Bangladesh national,’ he added.

He said that initiatives were underway to bring the body from India.

In the four-day BGB-BSF border conference in February 17—20 in New Delhi, both countries came to a consensus to bring the border killings to zero.

Border killings go unabated as at least 30 Bangladesh nationals were killed in BSF firing in 2024, according to rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra.

The ASK data also showed that 31 Bangladeshis were killed in BSF firing in 2023.​

 

[Saif]

Repeated BSF attempts at border fencing vexatious

The attempt of India’s Border Security Force of March 17 at erecting barbed-wire fences along the border at Dahagram in Lalmonirhat is worrying as it violates the established border protocols. Indian border guards began erecting the fence with iron poles and fencing materials along the Sardar...

www.newagebd.net

Repeated BSF attempts at border fencing vexatious
19 March, 2025, 00:00

The attempt of India’s Border Security Force of March 17 at erecting barbed-wire fences along the border at Dahagram in Lalmonirhat is worrying as it violates the established border protocols. Indian border guards began erecting the fence with iron poles and fencing materials along the Sardar Para stretch of the border. The construction had been halted only after Bangladeshi border guards intervened and formally protested against the move. Border Guard Bangladesh officials have said that the fencing work was taking place in the no man’s land. But, the Border Guidelines, signed between Bangladesh and India in 1975, does not allow the construction of structures within 150 yards from the zero line on each side of the border. The incident follows two earlier attempts of the Indian guards to erect fences along the same stretch on March 2 and January 10. While the situation remains calm for now, local people say that an unease prevails about the growing presence of Indian guards near the border. They report that the repeated fencing attempts threaten their movement and farm work and create an atmosphere of insecurity in the frontiers.

Indian border guards made similar attempts along the borders in Chapainawabganj and Naogaon in recent months. This pattern reflects not only disregard for the established border protocols but also undermines the spirit of cooperation that bilateral relations require. The repeated violations send out a signal for a serious deviation from the commitments made at meetings between the two border forces. Although the meetings have often come up with pledges to uphold mutual understanding and prevent tension, such commitments are increasingly brought into question by action on part of the Indian guards. The move at hand of the Indian border guards could well be construed as an attempt at discommoding the Bangladesh government, which is in a transitional phase, especially in view of a series of events have happened in the border with the direct involvement of India’s Border Security Force. Such events on part of the Indian guards began in the final days of December 2024 with the erection of barbed-wire or electric fences along the border in Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon. Such events also endanger any efforts for improvement in bilateral relations, which have faced a setback because of India’s support for the authoritarian Awami League regime, toppled in a mass uprising on August 5, 2024.

Dhaka should, therefore, take up the issue with New Delhi to ensure that such attempts are addressed with the seriousness that they warrant. Delhi, in turn, should also ensure strict adherence to protocols. Such action is not welcome when both the neighbours are working to improve bilateral relations.​