Shafaqna Pakistan: Bangladesh and India have agreed to strengthen cooperation along their shared border through enhanced intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols, according to a joint statement issued on Friday, as both countries seek to manage tensions linked to allegations of undocumented migration.
Relations between the two neighbours have faced strain after Dhaka accused Indian authorities of attempting to push migrants across the border without following due legal procedures. The issue has added to diplomatic challenges following the 2024 removal of Sheikh Hasina and India’s broader campaign to identify and deport undocumented migrants.
In the joint statement, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) described their discussions as “cordial, positive and forward-looking.”
The statement was released at the conclusion of a four-day meeting of senior border officials held in New Delhi, where both sides reviewed border management issues and explored ways to improve cooperation.
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 4,000‑km (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 has said it has sent more than a dozen letters to New Delhi seeking an end to the practice.
The 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.
The joint statement said the two sides also discussed human trafficking, border deaths, smuggling, infrastructure and implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, tranquility and stability along the India-Bangladesh border,” the statement said, adding they would strengthen coordinated patrols, enhance vigilance, improve real-time information sharing and step up joint action against trans-border criminal networks.
The top border officials will next meet in Dhaka in November, the statement said.
Source: Dunya News
