BGB, BSF meeting ends without clear solutions to push-in, border killing

The four-day meeting of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) ends without any clear solution to push-in and border killing issues. 

The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation along their shared border with improved intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols, according to a joint statement released on Friday, amid strained relations over alleged undocumented migration, reports Reuters.

Dhaka has accused Indian authorities of attempting to force migrants, which is commonly known as push-in, across the border without due process, complicating efforts to stabilise ties following the 2024 ousting of Sheikh Hasina and India’s broader effort to identify and deport undocumented migrants.

BGB and BSF described the discussions as “cordial, positive and forward-looking”, according to the statement ⁠released at the end of a four-day meeting of top border officials in New Delhi.

The regular talks also covered “illegal, inadvertent and forcible crossing at border areas,” an increasingly contentious issue in recent months.

Bangladesh and India share a more than 4,000km (2,500-mile) border, one of the world’s longest. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which governs key border states including Tripura, West Bengal and Assam, has said tackling alleged undocumented migration is a priority and has been trying to push Bengali-speaking Muslims branded “illegal infiltrators” into Bangladesh since last year.

Bangladesh said it had sent more than a dozen letters to New Delhi seeking an end to the practice.
BGB ⁠has reported foiling several alleged attempts in recent weeks and has stepped up deployments, intelligence operations and drone surveillance in border areas.

Earlier this week, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said that any push-ins without due process were “absolutely unacceptable,” warning they could undermine efforts to improve bilateral ties.

Bangladesh said it had intensified patrols and launched ⁠awareness campaigns along parts of the frontier to tackle the alleged forced crossings, while India said in May it had asked Dhaka to verify the nationality of more than 2,860 suspected Bangladeshi nationals living in India without formal documentation.