BGB-BSF director general-level meeting begins in Delhi

The 57th director general-level meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh and the Indian Border Security Force began in New Delhi on Monday, June 8. The four-day conference, which will continue until June 11, will discuss a range of critical issues including border killings, pushbacks, infiltration, drug and arms smuggling, trafficking and border security.

The high-level meeting commenced at the BSF headquarters in New Delhi on Monday morning.

Bangladesh is raising the issues of border killings and push-in attempts as key discussion points. The BGB has claimed that there have been recent attempts to push several individuals, including women and children, into Bangladesh at various border points. The BGB said it maintains a vigilant stance against such incidents and that the repatriation of citizens should follow international norms.

According to human rights organisations, several Bangladeshis have been killed at the border in the first five months of this year.

India, on its part, is also raising its concerns at the meeting, including illegal infiltration, obstruction to border fencing, smuggling and attacks on border guards. India maintains that those being repatriated are illegal infiltrators and the prescribed process is followed.

The Indian delegation is led by BSF Director General Praveen Kumar, while the Bangladesh delegation is led by BGB Director General Major General Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui. Representatives from the home and foreign ministries and other border-related agencies of both countries are also participating in the talks.

Diplomatic circles believe the outcome of this Delhi meeting could play a crucial role in building trust between the two countries and reducing border tensions.