On June 11, 2023, a fifteen-member delegation from the Border Guard Bangladesh is expected to arrive in New Delhi and will hold four-day talks between June 11 and June 14, 2023, with their Indian counterparts, the Border Security Force (BSF).
The BSF delegation will be led by DG (Director General) Sujoy Lal Thaosen, whereas the delegation from Bangladesh will be headed by DG (Major General) AKM Nazul Hasan.
The two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy between their security forces, according to official sources, on June 8, 2023.
Additionally, both sides will deliberate on a variety of issues related to border management, checking crimes on this front, joint initiatives to implement the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP), ways to enhance mutual trust between the BSF and BGB and further strengthen the existing bilateral relations, a senior Union Ministry official told the PTI (Press Trust of India)
Officials from the Ministry of Home, External Affairs and anti-drug enforcement will be a part of these two delegations.
This will be the 53rd Edition of the talks, and the last such meeting was held in July 2022 when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka.
These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992. But they were made bi-annual in 1993, with either side alternatively travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka.
The BSF guards the 4,096 km long international Indian Front with Bangladesh on the eastern flank of India. India has the longest contiguous border with Bangladesh.
According to official data, the BSF handed over 407 Bangladeshis back to their country in a “goodwill gesture” and did not take any legal action against them even though they were found crossing the border inadvertently.
The BSF will share data with the BGB about its various “proactive measures” to check the smuggling of Yaba tablets (a famous drug) and Phensedyl cough syrups from India to Bangladesh.
On June 14, 2023, measures to ensure that no activity takes place within 150 yards of the International Border and that those who are indulging in the smuggling of various goods are stopped at all costs will be discussed during the meeting, which will end with the signing of a ‘joint record of discussion’ the same day.
In 2011, India and Bangladesh agreed to effectively implement the Comprehensive Border Management Plan to control border crimes, including smuggling drugs, narcotics, arms, ammunition, fake currency and gold. The decision was taken at the 52nd DG level Border Conference between the BSF and the BGB held in Dhaka.
Both countries decided to strengthen the joint border patrolling, especially in night, as a precautionary and effective way to bring down the death and injury to the citizens of both countries to zero. India and Bangladesh have also agreed to spread more public awareness regarding border management to the people in the border areas.
Various effective measures were taken by both sides to deter the public from participating in illegal activities such as infiltration, human and arms trafficking, drug trade and other border crimes. This includes the construction of barbed wire fences within 150 yards of the border at numerous locations in consultations with the higher authorities.
A communications channel has been developed at the level of nodal officers of the BSF and the BGB to take quick decisions to implement the stall development work within 150 yards of the border.
The conservation works of the common border rivers, as per the Joint Rivers Commission, is another step taken by the security forces of both the countries. India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers.
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