Being Good Neighbours

The BSF addresses vulnerable border outposts with more manpower and technology

Younis Ahmad Kaloo

The 45th border co-ordination conference between Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) was held from October 2 to 6 in New Delhi. The 25-member delegation led by Director General of BGB, Major General Abul Hossian, held discussions pertaining to border management and other related issues with their Indian counterpart led by Director General K.K. Sharma.

The BSF addresses vulnerable border outposts with more manpower and technology

The conference saw both the sides placing their respective border-related issues before each other. The issues raised by the BGB during the discussion with the BSF included firing, killing, injuring, beating, arresting and apprehension of Bangladeshi nationals by the BSF, smuggling of fire arms, ammunition, explosive etc from India to Bangladesh, smuggling of various types of drugs and Phensedyl from India to Bangladesh, development works within 150 yards of International Border (IB) and providing assistance for river bank protection works along common border river.

On the other hand, the BSF talked about prevention against attacks on the BSF personnel by Bangladeshi criminals, prevention of trans-border crimes, border infrastructure, action against IIGs, effective implementation of Coordinated Border Management, expediting verification of nationality for early repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals found staying in India illegally, and repair, maintenance, construction and re-construction of boundary pillars on Indo-Bangladesh border by the BSF.



The four-day bi-annual DG-level talks ended after both the Director Generals signed a Joint Record of Discussions. Addressing the media afterwards, Director General K.K. Sharma, while replying to a question on the possibility of Rohingyas crossing over to India, said, “All of us have taken steps. The BGB has ensured that the movement of Rohingyas in these camps (in Bangladesh) is regulated. They have also mounted some nakas and checkpoints on various routes to ensure they do not cross over to India. At the same time, as many people try to clandestinely crossover to India, we have identified vulnerable border outposts (140 with maximum being in south Bengal), the routes from where illegal migration can take place and the riverine gaps on the border and have strengthened them with more deployment of manpower and more technical gadgets”. Sharma further said that the BSF has also sensitised the local population, who can intimate the force on spotting anyone who has crossed over to the Indian side.

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