By News On Air Feb 20, 2025
The 55th Director General-level Border Coordination Conference between Border Security Forces (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) concluded in New Delhi today. During the conference, issues like infiltration, transborder crimes, fencing at the border, smuggling, and other issues were discussed at length between the two nations. The discussion was led by Director General of Border Security Force (DG BSF) Daljit Singh Chawdhary and Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (DG BGB), Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui.
During the conference, BSF and BGB both reiterated the need for synergistic efforts to uphold human rights and curb violence on the border. They agreed to work together with utmost synergy by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, intensifying public awareness programs, undertaking appropriate socio-economic development programs, and sharing real-time information in order to ensure effective border management without any killing on either side.
In a joint media briefing following the conference, both directors general announced that the two countries have agreed to work together to reduce incidents of assaults on BSF personnel by Bangladesh-based transborder miscreants. They also agreed to minimise such incidents by increasing coordinated patrols, particularly during late-night to early-morning hours in vulnerable areas, and educating local populations about the sanctity of the international border.
Both sides expressed mutual appreciation for each other’s concerns and committed to resolving these issues through continued, constructive engagement at all levels. They also agreed to implement the conference’s decisions at the ground level in good faith.
BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary highlighted that infiltration along the Indo-Bangla border has significantly decreased since the 5th of August last year. He said the surveillance mechanism at the border has been strengthened with the deployment of state-of-the-art surveillance systems to check illegal activity.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh, Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, described recent reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh as exaggerated. He assured that security was provided at puja pandals within eight kilometres of the international border during Durga Puja and that security forces had received and acted upon several requests for protection from minorities.