A high-level border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) is set to begin in New Delhi on Monday. According to a statement issued by the BGB on Sunday, this marks the 55th border conference and the first major bilateral security dialogue since the political transition in Bangladesh following the July-August mass uprising.

This is the first such meeting between the two countries' border forces since the power change in Bangladesh following the July-August mass uprising. The statement said a 14-strong Bangladeshi delegation, headed by the BGB director general, will participate in the four-day conference.

However, expectations for a tangible outcome remain low. While such meetings are held regularly to address border tensions and security concerns, India has repeatedly failed to fulfil its commitments to ending extrajudicial killings.

The Bangladesh-India border—one of the world’s longest land borders—remains a site of increasing violence, diplomatic disputes, and human rights violations. The key question remains: Will this dialogue mark a turning point for real change, or will it once again end in diplomatic rhetoric with no tangible impact?

Border Tensions Escalate Amid Continued Killings

The upcoming talks take place against a backdrop of mounting tensions and growing outrage over border killings. Human rights organisations report that at least 25 Bangladeshi civilians were killed by the BSF in 2024 alone, adding to a long history of violence that has fueled anger and diplomatic friction.

According to the BGB, a 14-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by its director general, will attend the four-day conference. Representatives from the Chief Advisor’s Office, Home, Foreign, and Shipping Ministries, as well as officials from the Land Record and Survey Department and the Joint Rivers Commission, will be present. The Indian delegation, headed by the BSF director general, includes 13 senior officials from India’s Home and Foreign Ministries.

The Key Issues on the Table

Discussions will focus on pressing security concerns, including:

• Stopping border killings: Bangladesh will demand an end to the shootings of unarmed civilians and push India to adopt a zero-killing policy, a commitment India has failed to uphold in previous negotiations.
• Curbing cross-border crimes: Smuggling of drugs, firearms, and contraband remains a major issue, with both sides seeking stronger enforcement measures.
• Illegal infrastructure and environmental concerns: Bangladesh is expected to object to India's construction of barbed-wire fences within 150 yards of the border, which violates existing agreements. Additionally, discussions will address water pollution from canals flowing from Agartala into Akhaura.
• Enhancing regional security cooperation: Intelligence sharing on insurgent groups and cross-border criminal networks will be a focal point.
• Implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP): Both sides will discuss mechanisms to strengthen border monitoring and improve crisis response strategies.

Bangladesh-India Border Killings: A Continuing Tragedy

Despite repeated assurances from New Delhi, Bangladeshi civilians continue to fall victim to BSF gunfire, often under disputed circumstances. The most recent cases include:

• January 7, 2025: Zahur Ali was shot dead at the Chunarughat border in Habiganj.
• December 22, 2024: Gopal, a tea worker, was found dead with bullet wounds near the Barlekha border in Moulvibazar.
• October 7, 2024: Kamal Hossain, a young Bangladeshi, was killed at the Cumilla border. His body was taken by the BSF and returned 26 hours later.

These killings evoke memories of Felani Khatun, the 15-year-old girl whose lifeless body was left hanging on a barbed-wire fence in 2011—an image that became a symbol of cross-border brutality. Despite global outrage, justice remains elusive.

While Bangladesh has repeatedly protested these killings, India often justifies BSF’s actions as necessary to combat illegal border crossings and smuggling. However, human rights organizations—including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch—have strongly condemned the use of lethal force, arguing that such extrajudicial killings violate international law.

Diplomatic Fallout and the Urgent Need for Reform

The persistent cycle of border violence has deepened diplomatic tensions and stoked anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. The killings have also fueled distrust among border communities, leaving families living in fear and hesitant to farm or work near the frontier.

To prevent further loss of life, both governments must:

1. Ensure accountability: Establish independent inquiries into border killings and prosecute those responsible.
2. Adopt non-lethal security measures: Increase reliance on non-violent deterrents, joint patrols, and better surveillance.
3. Improve border governance: Enhance local engagement, legal crossing procedures, and community awareness programs to prevent unintentional border violations.

Unless concrete actions follow these talks, the cycle of violence, diplomatic tensions, and humanitarian tragedies will continue—leaving innocent lives at risk.