Dhaka has accused Indian officials of attempting to push migrants over the border without proper procedures, complicating efforts to stabilize relations following the anticipated 2024 removal of Sheikh Hasina and India’s broader mission to identify and deport undocumented migrants.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) characterized the discussions as “cordial, positive, and forward-looking,” according to the statement released at the conclusion of a four-day meeting involving senior border officials in New Delhi.
The ongoing discussions also addressed “illegal, inadvertent, and forcible crossings at border zones,” which has become an increasingly contentious matter in recent months.
Bangladesh and India share a border exceeding 4,000 km (2,500 miles), one of the longest in the world. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, governing key border states such as Tripura, West Bengal, and Assam, has prioritized tackling alleged undocumented migration and has been attempting to send Bengali-speaking Muslims labeled as “illegal infiltrators” back to Bangladesh since the previous year.
Bangladesh claims it has sent over a dozen letters to New Delhi requesting the cessation of this practice.
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The BGB has reported thwarting several alleged attempts in recent weeks and has increased deployments, intelligence activities, and drone surveillance in border regions.
Earlier this week, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam stated that any unauthorized push-ins were “absolutely unacceptable,” cautioning that they could jeopardize efforts to enhance bilateral relations.
Bangladesh reported that it has ramped up patrols and initiated awareness campaigns along certain sections of the border to combat the alleged forced crossings, while India mentioned in May that it had asked Dhaka to verify the nationality of over 2,860 suspected Bangladeshi nationals residing in India without official documentation.
The joint statement revealed that the two parties also covered topics such as human trafficking, border fatalities, smuggling, infrastructure, and the execution of the Coordinated Border Management Plan.
“Both sides reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining peace, tranquility, and stability along the India-Bangladesh border,” the statement proclaimed, noting that they would bolster coordinated patrols, enhance vigilance, improve real-time information sharing, and intensify joint actions against transborder criminal networks.
The next meeting of top border officials is scheduled to take place in Dhaka in November, as stated in the announcement.
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