Physical fencing along the border, curbing smuggling and trans-border crimes, assaults on BSF personnel, and insurgent camps will top the agenda of the upcoming biannual talks between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Delhi later this month.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the meeting between BSF and BGB officials will take place from February 17 to 20. This will be the first official meeting in Delhi since the fall of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024.
A source in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the BSF has finalized all arrangements for the meeting after coordinating with the home ministry. “The conference aims to address border-related issues and enhance coordination between the two border guarding forces. One of the key discussion points will be the physical fencing of approximately 864.482 km of the border, which remains unfenced,” the source told the news outlet.
Earlier this week, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that the total length of the India-Bangladesh border is 4,096.7 km, of which 3,196.705 km has been fenced.
“A total of 864.482 km of the border remains unfenced, including 174.514 km of non-feasible gaps. The major challenges in completing fencing projects include land acquisition issues, objections from the BGB, limited working seasons, and difficult terrain such as landslides and marshy land,” Rai said in a written reply.
The talks will also address border security concerns. According to an MHA source, the BSF registered 85 protest notes with the BGB last year. “Since the formation of a new government in Bangladesh, many border security personnel have been replaced or transferred. As a result, they are taking time to establish cordial relations with the BSF. Previously, BGB officers in charge made final decisions on minor issues, but now, they are increasingly involving higher authorities in decision-making,” the source added.
India and Bangladesh first held border talks annually between 1975 and 1992. Since 1993, the meetings have been held biannually, alternating between New Delhi and Dhaka.
During the upcoming meeting, the BSF and BGB will also discuss joint efforts for the effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and other confidence-building measures. The issue of attacks on BSF personnel by miscreants during border duty, as well as the presence of insurgent camps on Bangladesh soil, will be key points of discussion.
Data compiled by the Centre ahead of the biannual talks highlights recent trends in cross-border crimes. The BSF seized 190.830 kg of gold in 2024, compared to 171.045 kg in 2023. The force also recovered fake Indian currency notes worth Rs 33,35,700 in 2024, as compared to Rs 20,18,500 in 2023. Additionally, the BSF apprehended 3,474 Bangladeshi nationals in 2024, an increase from 3,342 in 2023. Meanwhile, 69 BSF personnel sustained injuries in 2024, compared to 74 in the previous year.
The India-Bangladesh border, which stretches 4,096.7 km, touches five Indian states – West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The border terrain consists of plains, riverine belts, hills, and dense forests. It is also heavily populated, with cultivation extending right up to the boundary. The BSF currently operates 1,113 Border Outposts (BOPs) along the India-Bangladesh border to deter trans-border criminals, infiltrators, and other hostile elements from engaging in illegal activities.
An MHA official stated that the Centre has approved the construction of 383 composite BOPs along the border, which are yet to be completed. The official added that these outposts will help strengthen border security and improve surveillance capabilities. (With inputs from Indian Express)