On February 17, senior officials from Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) convened a four-day crucial border conference in New Delhi. The meeting aimed to address long-standing security issues in the border regions between the two countries and reached several agreements. Both sides pledged to reduce incidents of shootings, killings, injuries, or assaults on unarmed civilians to zero and agreed to enhance joint patrols in vulnerable border areas. However, doubts remain about the long-term effectiveness of these commitments.
Border Killings: A Critical Factor in Tensions Between Bangladesh and India
Border killings are one of the significant issues leading to the growing tensions between Bangladesh and India. Despite multiple agreements aimed at promoting peace along the border, these accords have largely been superficial and not effectively implemented. Indian authorities have consistently failed to hold accountable those who violate internationally recognized border control protocols and bilateral agreements, exacerbating the security situation in the region.
According to statistics from the human rights organization Odhikar, Indian border forces killed 588 Bangladeshi citizens and injured 773 others between January 2009 and November 2024. Despite repeated expressions of concern by Bangladesh regarding border security and calls for India to adopt a more responsible approach, the incidents of border killings have continued to rise.
India has the right to protect its borders from infiltration, but resorting to force at the slightest indication of unauthorized presence or activity is a clear violation of humanitarian principles. On February 28, less than two weeks after the conclusionof the border conference, a 32-year-old Bangladeshi man named Md Al-Amin was shot dead by the Border Security Force (BSF) of India at the Putia border of Kasba upazila in Brahmanbaria. Kasba Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Samiul Islam described how Indian border guards suspected Al Amin of being a smuggler and opened fire, killing him.
The default response of Indian authorities to such incidents is to justify killings as necessary to prevent cross-border crimes or as acts of self-defense. However, in many cases, the victims are often unarmed farmers and minors who pose no threat to BSF. The “shoot first, ask questions later” policy, which claims lives, is difficult to defend under international law.
Diplomatic Efforts: The Importance of Dialogue and Cooperation
The UN Charter explicitly stipulates that all member states shall respect and protect human rights, including the right to life, liberty, and personal security. The actions of India’s Border Security Force clearly run counter to these principles. Border killings not only tarnish India’s image as a democratic nation committed to justice but also severely infringe upon Bangladesh’s national sovereignty and the fundamental human rights of its people.
The strained relations between Bangladesh and India affect political, economic, and cultural cooperation between the two countries and hinder the overall peace and development of South Asia. Therefore, in the current complex international landscape, both sides must intensify diplomatic efforts through regular high-level meetings and multi-channel communication mechanisms to ensure that border issues are addressed promptly and effectively. This is not only essential for maintaining border peace but also crucial for the peace and development of the South Asian region.
The interim government of Bangladesh should emphasize accountability in negotiations with India, advocating for the establishment of independent, transparent oversight mechanisms to investigate border killings and promote effective measures to prevent similar tragedies. The Indian government must demonstrate strong political will to fulfill its commitment to zero border killings, making policy adjustments and enhancing supervision and management on the ground. Both sides should play a constructive role by adopting non-lethal means to strengthen border management, ensuring that cross-border crimes are effectively deterred without causing loss of life.
Addressing the issue of border killings is also a matter of international concern. The international community should increase its attention and support for the border issues between Bangladesh and India, providing necessary technical assistance and policy guidance. Multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) can play a significant role by organizing dialogues and providing professional training to help both sides establish more robust cooperation mechanisms.
Border killings pose a severe challenge to international law and human rights, and constitute a humanitarian crisis. As important nations in South Asia, Bangladesh and India have the responsibility and capability to resolve this issue through diplomatic efforts and practical cooperation, creating a more peaceful and secure environment for their people.
Nazifa Jannat, a journalism student at Syracuse University & an observer of South Asian affairs.
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