BSF deploys bees along Bangladesh border to prevent infiltration, smuggling

Since July-August of this year, the ongoing political unrest and subsequent instability in Bangladesh have raised concerns along the India-Bangladesh border as well. According to the Indian defense department, a major issue is the infiltration from Bangladesh. During times of political instability, many people attempt to cross the border.

Moreover, throughout the year, the military forces on both sides of the barbed-wire fence must maintain strict surveillance to prevent smuggling. To curb illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has adopted a unique strategy—deploying bees along the border.

It is noteworthy that artificial beehives have been set up by BSF at the Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Nadia district. Last week, 10-12 BSF personnel were spotted receiving training in beekeeping at Kadipur, a village near the border in Nadia. They were seen wearing protective gear around their heads and faces. The 32nd Battalion of BSF, responsible for the security of the 46-kilometer stretch between West Bengal and Bangladesh, has hung several bee boxes along the border fence. A BSF official mentioned that this method has proven effective, as the number of infiltration or smuggling incidents in the area has dropped to nearly zero.

In an interview with a news outlet, Sujit Kumar, the Commandant of BSF’s 32nd Battalion, said, “We started beekeeping in November 2023 as part of a government project aimed at village development. I thought of using beekeeping boxes on the barbed-wire fence to prevent infiltration. If an infiltrator or smuggler approaches the fence, the bees will attack them.”

After the success of this initiative by one unit, other units are reportedly considering similar measures. A resident of Kadipur village commented that many criminals used to loiter around the border, but now they are no longer there because of the bees. Moreover, petty crimes along the border have also decreased.

Meanwhile, tensions between the two countries have escalated due to the recent death of a Bangladeshi national from BSF gunfire. Last Monday, Bangladesh's interim government’s foreign affairs advisor, Mohammad Touhid Hossain, stated, “Border killings have become an obstacle to improving relations between Bangladesh and India.”

In response to journalists’ questions, he further mentioned, “We certainly want a relationship with India based on equality.”

Experts believe that both countries' border security forces need to strengthen their efforts to prevent border killings and smuggling. They also emphasize that new strategies must be adopted to avoid border killings, as these incidents have strained relations between the neighboring countries. In the past, such issues have caused tensions.

Now, it remains to be seen how effective the BSF’s new strategy of deploying bees will be in addressing these challenges.