The 54th director general (DG) level border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) ended at BGB headquarters on Saturday, where both sides agreed to bring down the killing of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals in the border areas to zero by taking effective steps, including enhancing joint patrolling.
The border conference, which started on March 5, ended with the signing of the Joint Record of Discussion (JRD) document. Later, a joint press statement was read out in the press conference.
According to the joint press statement, DG BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui urged DG BSF Shri Nitin Agrawal to adopt necessary measures to reduce border killings to zero, considering the sound bilateral relations existing between Bangladesh and India.
Besides this cardinal concern, DG BGB also expressed his optimism to curb various types of trans-border crimes like smuggling, human trafficking, inadvertent border crossing, and any kind of terrorist activities, as well as time-bound concurrence in regards to development works including river bank protection works, an increase in border haats, and the completion of stalled ICP/LCP-related projects, etc.
The DG BSF expressed his sincere condolences for the sorrowful demise of Sepoy Md Roisuddin in the unfortunate incident on January 22, 2024.
Expressing satisfaction over the coordinated efforts of BSF and BGB in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border, both stressed the need for effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP).
The two sides agreed to bring down the killings and injuries of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals to zero by enhancing joint patrolling, and vigilance, intensifying public awareness programs, undertaking appropriate socio-economic development programs, educating the border population about the sanctity of the international border (IB), preventing criminals and inhabitants from crossing the IB, and sharing real-time information.
Both sides agreed to take effective steps to continue to sensitize the border populace to refrain from violations of IB/illegal crossing/intrusion, smuggling, human trafficking, uprooting border pillars, and other trans-border crimes. As a whole, both sides are assured of maintaining the desired sanctity of the border.
Both the delegation leaders reiterated their existing “zero tolerance” stance on trans-border insurgent groups and agreed to take all necessary steps to prevent trans-border movements based on real-time information.
Regarding the death of BGB member Sepoy Md Roisuddin, who died in a BSF firing in Jessore Frontier on January 22, 2024, the DG BSF expressed his sincere condolences for his death.
When asked about the death of Sepoy Roisuddin, DG BSF Nitin Agrawal did not give any direct answers.
When his attention was drawn to Sepoy Roisuddin's death, DG BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said that this was not a targeted killing first of all. This happened amid darkness, fog, and confusion from both sides, and in the future, there will be all efforts from both sides to avoid any kind of killing of uniform BGB and BSF personnel or any civilian, in both Bangladesh and India.
DG BSF Shri Nitin Agrawal led the Indian delegation consisting of nine members in the DG Level Border Conference, while DG BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqu led a 16-member Bangladesh delegation.
