FROM PAGE 12

According to BGB, the force has thwarted more than 30 such attempts since early June, following the formation of BJP-led state governments in West Bengal and Assam.

On Tuesday night, BGB personnel prevented another alleged push-in attempt by the BSF through the Rahimpur border in Jamalpur’s Dewanganj upazila, according to our district correspondent.

Official figures show that at least 2,303 people were pushed into Bangladesh between May 2025 and January 2026. Among them were 126 Indian nationals and 38 Myanmar nationals.

Border killings also featured prominently during the discussions.

According to rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least eight Bangladeshis were killed in BSF firing or torture along the border between January and May 2026. The number stood at 34 last year.

Bangladesh also raised concerns over India’s unilateral construction of barbed-wire fences and other structures along the Bangladesh-India border.

According to BGB and foreign ministry officials, any construction within designated border areas should be carried out through mutual consultation between the BGB and BSF.

“Often, it has been noticed that the BSF unilaterally constructs fences or other structures,” a BGB official said, wishing not to be named.

The Bangladesh side further protested alleged violations of its airspace by Indian drones and helicopters and sought stronger measures to curb the smuggling of Indian goods and narcotics across the border.

“We have also discussed the installation of effluent treatment plants to treat wastewater flowing through four canals from India’s Agartala into Akhaura in Bangladesh,” said the BGB official.

The talks also covered the protection of transboundary river banks, the exchange of information on armed groups operating in border areas, and the effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan.

“We have requested the BSF to discourage propaganda in border areas by Indian media outlets and social media platforms and to take effective initiatives to strengthen mutual trust and friendship between the BGB and BSF,” said another BGB official, seeking anonymity.

When asked about the BSF’s position on border killings and push-ins, a foreign ministry official said the Indian side maintained that its actions were carried out in accordance with domestic laws.

For its part, the BSF emphasised the need to prevent cross-border crimes, infiltration into India, and breaches of the frontier fence. It also raised concerns regarding Indian criminal gangs allegedly operating from Bangladesh.

The BSF additionally sought faster repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals identified as infiltrators in India.

In response, BGB officials said that repatriation processes are ongoing and would continue in accordance with existing mechanisms.