Reduce border killings to zero, Bangladesh urges again

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) chief has reiterated his call upon India's Border Security Force (BSF) to reduce border killings to zero at a conference of BGB and BSF held in Dhaka.

The two neighbouring border forces signed a joint statement on Saturday (March 9), the last day of the five-day conference, after the border conference. The statement was read out at a joint press conference at BGB Pilkhaka headquarters following the director general-level conference.

In the statement, BGB and BSF agreed to bring down the border casualties of Bangladeshi nationals to zero by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, intensifying public awareness programme, and preventing criminals or inhabitants from crossing the border.

At the same time, both forces emphasized the need for effective implementation of the 'Combined Border Management Plan (CBMP)'.

Shariful Islam, Public Relations Officer of BGB Headquarters, said that a nine-member Indian delegation led by BSF Director General Nitin Agrawal along with representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs participated in the conference. On the other hand, a 16-member Bangladesh delegation including representatives of the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Joint River Commission, led by BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, participated in the conference.

In his welcome address to the conference, BGB DG Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman expressed deep concern over the killings of Bangladeshi nationals on the border and urged the BSF DG to take effective measures to bring it down to zero.
Upholding the spirit of the joint statement of the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India in 2022, both sides agreed to strengthen the joint border patrol as a more precautionary and effective initiative to reduce the number of killings, injuries and beatings of unarmed Bangladeshi citizens at the border to zero. Besides, both sides agreed to strengthen development programmes in the border areas and take awareness activities about the rules of international border law among the citizens living in the border areas.

Both sides have agreed to take appropriate measures to resume closed bank conservation works of the common rivers at the border on the basis of mutual consensus approved by the Joint River Commission.

The BGB DG requested the BSF DG to make necessary coordination with the appropriate authorities in India for setting up an optical fiber network in Dahgram through Teen Bigha corridor under the 'Connected Bangladesh' project. BSF Director General assured assistance in this regard.

Highlighting the zero tolerance policy of their respective governments against terrorism and separatist groups, both sides reached a consensus on taking appropriate measures against them, sharing specific information and continuing necessary operational activities along their respective borders.

Referring to the harmful effects of water mixed with industrial waste flowing from India's Agartala to Bangladesh's Akhaura through the border canal, the BGB DG stressed on the establishment of the required number of waste treatment plants as per the decision of the meeting of the technical committee of the Joint River Commission. Both sides agreed to conduct joint surveys and take necessary steps to protect the border environment.

BGB DG Ashrafuzzaman, referring to the irrigation of 5,000 hectares of cultivable cropland on the bank of Kushiara River in Jakiganj and the suffering of the people along the border, called upon the BSF DG to immediately reopen the mouth of Rahimpur canal, which is closed along Kushiara River, in consideration of humanitarian aspects. In response, BSF DG Nitin Agrawal assured to re-open the mouth of Rahimpur canal soon considering the interests of both sides.