BGB-BSF meeting calls for complete end to border killings

As the biennial DG-level talks between the BGB and BSF entered the second day today, the Bangladesh side has reiterated the urgent need for bringing down the border killings to zero (complete end).

The 55th meeting between the director generals of Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is the first official meeting in Delhi since the fall of Hasina regime on August 5.

According to sources close to the meeting, the Bangladesh side argued that while Dhaka has no objection to try those who transgress the border under existing laws, killings cannot be justified.

"This is a sensitive issue for Bangladesh," the visiting delegation said at the meeting.

The Indian delegation said the implementation of the coordinated border management plan was needed to stop organised crime at the border, according to sources on both sides.

The BGB delegation is headed by Director General Maj General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui while the BSF is led by DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary.

The meeting also discussed the border fencing by the BSF.

The BSF claimed the erecting of single row fences were "as per the past agreements between the sovereign governments of the two countries which the BGB should abide by".

The BGB countered this by saying that as per the understanding between the two sides, fencing should be preceded by a "joint survey by border guards of both the countries to decide where and how to set up the fences".

The ongoing meeting deliberated on measures to check cross-border crimes, including the smuggling of phensedyl, yaba, arms, and other narcotics.

Sources said the overall atmosphere in the meeting was "friendly" and sensitive bilateral issues were discussed "in a candid" manner" even though strong arguments were placed.

The BSF today hosted a dinner in honour of the 14-member BGB side.

This year's summit in New Delhi was cut down to three days from five in the past and the talks have been "business-like", said sources close to the meeting.

In the past, the visiting delegation used to go for sightseeing, which was also missing this time. The BGB team is set to return to Dhaka tomorrow after the joint minutes of the meeting are signed on the final day.

Bangladesh and India share a 4,096 km-long border spanning across five Indian states -- West Bengal (2,217 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Assam (262 km), and Mizoram (318 km).