BGB, BSF call talks 'cordial and forward-looking' as Dhaka presses New Delhi to halt forced border crossings
Bangladesh. India have agreed to deepen cooperation along their shared border with improved intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols, according to a joint statement released on Friday, amid strained relations over alleged undocumented migration.
Dhaka has accused Indian authorities of attempting to force migrants across the border without due process. complicating efforts to stabilise ties following the 2024ousting of Sheikh Hasinaand India’s broader effort to identify anddeport undocumented migrants.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). India’s Border Security Force (BSF) described the discussions as “cordial, positive and forward-looking”, according to the statement released at the end of a four-day meeting of top border officials in New Delhi. The regular talks also covered “illegal, inadvertent and forcible crossing at border areas,” an increasingly contentious issue in recent months.
Read:Bangladesh heightens alert over forced India crossings
Bangladesh and India share a more than 4,000‑km (2,500-mile) border, one of the world’s longest. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party,which governs key border states including Tripura, West Bengal. Assam, has said tackling alleged undocumented migration is a priority and has been trying to push Bengali-speaking Muslims branded "illegal infiltrators"into Bangladeshsince last year.
Bangladesh has said it has sent more than a dozen letters to New Delhi seeking an end to the practice.
The BGB hasreported foiling several alleged attemptsin recent weeks. has stepped up deployments, intelligence operations and drone surveillance in border areas.
Earlier this week. Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said that any push-ins without due process were “absolutely unacceptable,” warning they could undermine efforts to improve bilateral ties.
Read More:India names BJP member as envoy to Bangladesh as ties thaw
Bangladesh said it had intensified patrols. launched awareness campaigns along parts of the frontier to tackle the alleged forced crossings, while India said in May it had asked Dhaka to verify the nationality of more than 2,860 suspected Bangladeshi nationals living in India without formal documentation.
The joint statement said the two sides also discussed human trafficking, border deaths, smuggling, infrastructure. implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan. “Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, tranquility. stability along the India-Bangladesh border,” the statement said, adding they would strengthen coordinated patrols, enhance vigilance, improve real-time information sharing and step up joint action against trans-border criminal networks.
The top border officials will next meet in Dhaka in November, the statement said.
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see ourComments FAQ
Discussion
Sign in to join the thread, react, and share images.