DG-level talks between the BSF and BGB saw agreements, status updates, and measures to curb border crime
Mihir Paul
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) agreed on a plethora of measures to curb border crime at the 47th Border Co-ordination Conference held in Delhi on September 7.
Director Generals from both the BSF and BGB discussed ways to extend cooperation in curbing border crime and bring down casualties along the International Border (IB). A 14-member BGB delegation led by its Director General Maj. Gen. Shafeenul Islam and a 20-member BSF team led by the then Director General K.K. Sharma, IPS, participated in the summit at the BSF’s Chhawla camp in New Delhi.
The DG-level talks witnessed both sides taking up specific issues of concern including prevention of illegal border crossings, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and smuggling of narcotics, among others. The issue of inadvertent crossing over by the border population and ways to facilitate their return on both the sides was also discussed. It was also agreed upon in deliberations that utmost caution and care should be exercised in dealing with the civilians.
During the talks, DG K.K. Sharma voiced his concerns over the increased instances in the smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN). Responding to DG Sharma’s concerns, DG Islam said that law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh are taking actions against FICN racketeers and along with it the government has already placed FICN detecting machines in all Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) as well as other places across the country.
Sharma appreciated the efforts of BGB and other security forces of Bangladesh against smuggling of fake currency notes and sought further cooperation in detecting such units in Bangladesh and legal prosecution of defaulters. DG BSF sought further cooperation from BGB to eliminate remnant Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs). Responding to Sharma’s concerns, DG BGB informed that there were no IIG’s hideouts inside Bangladesh and clarified that “Bangladesh does not allow its soil to be used by entities or elements hostile to any country”.
Commenting on illegal border crossings, DG Islam expressed that there is no large-scale infiltration or migration of people from Bangladesh into India. “There is no large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh. We have a GDP of 7.1 and people enjoy a good life now in Bangladesh.” The people (Bangladeshis) who cross-over, do so because of cultural ties and historic relations. But they come back after visiting their friends and family who are still living across the border. We have found out that this is mostly the case,” he added.
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