New Delhi/Dhaka, Feb 20 :
The border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh agreed to bring down to minimum incidents of attacks on BSF personnel by Bangladesh-based trans-border criminals and reiterated the need for synergised efforts to uphold human rights and curb violence on the border.
The Indian delegation to the talks was headed by Daljit Singh Chawdhary, DG BSF, and Bangladesh delegation was headed by Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General, Border Guard Bangladesh, the BSF said in a post on X.
The major agenda points at the four-day 55th Director General-level meeting between the Border Security Force and the Border Guard Bangladesh, held in New Delhi (Feb 17-20), were:
From the BSF side were prevention against attack/assault/abuse on BSF personnel and Indian civilians by Bangladesh based criminals/miscreants, joint efforts to prevent trans-border crimes, action against Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) in Bangladesh, issues related to border infrastructure, construction of SRF, joint efforts for effective implementation of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP), Confidence Building Measures (CBM) and other miscellaneous activities.
From the BGB, the points were: prevention of border crimes; border violation/illegal crossing/intrusion into Bangladesh territory by BSF/Indian police/Indian nationals, smugglers and miscreants; killing at border; issues related to border infrastructure within 150 yards of IB; establishment of Effluent Treatment plant (ETP) for 4 canals carrying waste water from Agartala to Akhaura; border demarcation, survey and construction of pillars; construction work within 150 yards of IB; river bank protection works and water sharing; location of camps and movement of armed miscreants inside India; effective implementation of CBMP, confidence building measures and other Misc activities.
Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP),
With a view to maintain the highest level of cordial relations between both the nations, as envisaged by its present top leadership, following decisions were taken by both the D’sG after detailed discussions on the agenda from both sides:
*Both sides appreciated each other’s concerns and committed to settle these issues amicably through continued, constructive and positive engagements at all levels. They agreed to implement the decisions of the conference at the ground level in true spirit.
*On the incidents of assault/attack on BSF personnel by Bangladesh based trans-border criminals/miscreants, both sides agreed to undertake combined efforts to bring down such incidents to absolute minimum by increasing coordinated patrols especially during late hours of nights to early morning in vulnerable areas and educating border population regarding the sanctity of the International Border.
*Reiterating the need for synergistic efforts to uphold human rights and curb violence on the border, both sides agreed to work together with utmost synergy by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, intensifying public awareness program, undertaking appropriate socio-economic development program and sharing of real-time information in order to ensure effective border management without any killing on either side. BSF is already following the non-lethal policy on Indo- Bangladesh border.
*Highlighting the importance of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) in curbing trans-border crimes, human trafficking and illegal crossing, both sides agreed to pursue and share real-time information and investigation reports of traffickers (if any), both sides also assured to remain extra vigilant to curb such crimes and to put all out efforts to make Indo-Bangladesh border crime free. Both sides also agreed to help victims of human trafficking and to facilitate their rescue and fastest rehabilitation as per law of the land.
*Both sides appreciated the efforts taken for strengthening mutual cooperation through various agreed-upon events under CBMP. Both sides agreed to continue with all the bilateral engagements like coordinated joint patrolling, games and sports, joint retreat ceremonies, band display goodwill visits etc.
Both sides expressed their satisfaction over the outcome of the conference and reiterated their commitments to work jointly for maintaining peace and tranquillity at the border. They provisionally agreed to hold the next DG level conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh at a suitable time in the month of July 2025.
The highest-level talks between the Border Security Force India and Border Guard Bangladesh are held twice every year – once each in India and Bangladesh, which facilitates both the border guarding forces to establish robust systems through which co-operation in Border Guarding and Border Management is ensured.
India and Bangladesh share a civilizational and cultural heritage and host of factors that span virtually the entire spectrum of interaction that is possible for neighbors to have. Last coordination conference between both the forces was held at Dhaka (Bangladesh) from March 5 to 9, 2024.
