BSF-BGB to hold high-level meeting in New Delhi

The Border Security Force of India and the Border Guard Bangladesh will hold a high-level meeting in New Delhi from June 8 to June 11, according to a PTI report citing BSF officials.

The Bangladesh delegation will be led by BGB Director General Major General Muhammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, while the BSF delegation will be led by BSF Director General Praveen Kumar.

This will be the first DG-level meeting between the two border forces since the BNP came to power in Bangladesh.

The meeting is expected to discuss issues including barbed wire fencing along the border, preventing infiltration, and the handover of undocumented Bangladeshis living in West Bengal and other Indian states to the BGB. Allegations of attacks on BSF personnel may also be raised.

The meeting comes at a time when India has increased surveillance along the Bangladesh border. The new BJP government in West Bengal has handed over land to the BSF for installing barbed wire fencing. Holding centres have also been opened in each district to detain infiltrators and illegal immigrants.

The India-Bangladesh international border is approximately 4,096 kilometres long, of which 860 kilometres remain without barbed wire fencing. Of this, fencing is not possible on about 174 kilometres due to geographical and other reasons.

Relations between Dhaka and Delhi had deteriorated during the tenure of Bangladesh's interim government before the election. Both countries have been working to smooth relations since the BNP came to power.