India-Bangladesh border forces agree for combined efforts to bring down assault incidents on BSF

The border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh on Monday agreed to undertake combined efforts to bring down incidents of assault on Border Security Force (BSF) personnel by trans-border criminals of the neighbouring country.

On the incidents of assault on BSF personnel by Bangladesh-based trans-border criminals, both sides “agreed to undertake combined efforts to bring down such incidents to an absolute minimum by increasing coordinated patrols, especially during late hours of nights to early morning in vulnerable areas and educating bordering population regarding the sanctity of International Border,” the BSF said in a statement.

The decisions were taken in the Sector Commander-level meeting at Border Outpost Hili of 61 Battalion of BSF under Raiganj Sector of North Bengal Frontier in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal.

In the meeting, both sides reiterated the need for synergistic efforts to uphold human rights and curb violence on the border, as per the BSF statement.

Both the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) agreed to work in “partnership and engage professionally by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, intensifying public awareness programmes, undertaking appropriate socio-economic development programmes, and sharing of real-time information in order to ensure that incidents of death at the border will be brought down to zero with active mutual cooperation in the near future.”

The Indian delegation was headed by Mohinder Singh, DIG, Sector Commander, Raiganj, Border Security Force and Bangladesh delegation was headed by Md Ariful Haque, Sector Commander, Dinajpur Sector, BGB.

During Sector Commander level border meeting, BSF and BGB engaged in dialogue involving host of factors that span virtually the entire spectrum of interaction that is possible for neighbours to have.

The border guarding forces of both countries have established robust systems through which cooperation in border guarding and border management is being ensured.

The Sector Commanders of BSF Sector Raiganj and BGB Sector Dinajpur have laid the foundation of a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.

To carry this agenda forward, some important decisions were taken by both commanders after detailed discussions on the agenda from both sides.

Both sides appreciated each other’s concerns and commitment to settle different border issues amicably through continued, constructive and positive engagements at all levels. They agreed to implement the decisions of the conference at ground level in true spirit.