'Unfortunate occurrences can be avoided': BSF-BGB talks flag border row; vow zero tolerance on insurgents

DHAKA/NEW DELHI: Border Security Force (BSF), at the DG-level talks with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Pilkhana, Dhaka, took up the recurrent border attacks, assault and stone-pelting incidents against its personnel and Indian nationals by the Bangladeshi miscreants, saying that these had left 68 BSF personnel injured last year and another 35 until June 30 this year.

BSF DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary and his BGB counterpart Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, during the talks held from Aug 25 to 28, discussed the issue of construction of single-row-fence (SRF) within 150 yards of the international border (IB) on the Indian side. While BGB DG raised concern over what he termed as “illegal construction work within 150 yards of IB”, Chawdhary underlined that SRF has no defence potential and is purely aimed at curbing and preventing trans-border crime.


“Both sides mutually agreed to constructively engage the respective higher authorities for concurrence on the pending work within 150 yards of IB....(they) agreed to follow the laid-down procedure while erecting SRF,” said the joint statement issued by BSF and BGB at the end of the biannual talks, the last leg of which was held in February 2025 in New Delhi.

At their joint press conference in Dhaka, Siddiqui objected to the use of lethal weapons by BSF against Bangladesh nationals intercepted on the international border. Chawdhary however clarified that a BSF personnel fires only in self-defence, that too as a last resort in the face of “imminent threat” to his life. “Such unfortunate occurrences can be avoided if a proper fence is put up in place on the border from both the sides,” he said.

To maintain transparency in any such retaliatory action by BSF, the force will be providing around 5,000 body-worn cameras to its border personnel, a source told TOI.

Another official said BSF response to attacks by border misadventures by Bangladeshi miscreants is always graded, and added that BGB must control potential intruders and trans-border criminals on its side, to prevent these mishaps.

BSF and BGB chiefs meanwhile agreed to step up coordinated border patrols and undertake joint efforts to bring down the incidents of assault by intensifying public awareness about the sanctity of international border.

Chawdhary elaborated on his concern regarding the delay on part of BGB and Bangladeshi authorities in taking back illegal Bangladeshi intruders apprehended by BSF. As per data shared with TOI, 2,404 incoming and 3,102 outgoing Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by BSF within a year of the regime change in Dhaka.

As regards trans-border insurgent groups and their camps, both sides agreed to adopt a zero-tolerance approach and take concurrent action based on real-time information.

The next DG-level conference is provisionally scheduled to be held in New Delhi in March 2026.

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