Bangladesh, India to coordinate patrols on border, share intel

Bangladesh and India have agreed to strengthen cooperation along their shared border through enhanced intelligence exchange and coordinated patrols, as per the joint statement issued on Friday following the completion of the 57th director general-level border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi.

The statement came at a time when tensions persist over allegations of undocumented cross-border migration.

BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and BSF Director General Shri Praveen Kumar led their respective sides in the conference.

According to the joint press release, the conference took place in a cordial, constructive and forward-looking atmosphere, underscoring the longstanding cooperation and mutual trust between the border forces of the two countries.

As the highest-level bilateral mechanism between the BGB and BSF, the meeting reviewed the overall border situation and discussed key issues related to border security and management.

Both sides agreed to enhance coordinated patrols, strengthen vigilance, improve real-time information sharing, and intensify joint action against cross-border criminal networks.

They also underscored the importance of raising awareness among border residents about respecting the international boundary and preventing illegal activities in border areas.

During the discussions, both sides focused on measures to prevent trans-border crimes, including the prevention of border killings, push-ins, illegal migration, human trafficking, border crossings and Rohingya issues, border fencing and infrastructure, and smuggling of counterfeit currency, gold and narcotics.

They also discussed activities of separatist and armed terrorist groups in the hill tracts, cooperation on border demarcation and pillars, use of transboundary river water and riverbank protection, and regulations on illegal construction and border infrastructure.

Both delegations expressed satisfaction over the outcomes of the conference, reiterating their shared commitment to enhancing cooperation, mutual confidence and professional coordination to ensure safe and stable border management.

The session ended with the signing of a Joint Record of Discussions.

Both sides expressed confidence that the agreements and understandings reached would further strengthen bilateral engagement, improve border governance, and contribute to more cordial relations between Bangladesh and India.

The four-day conference was held at the BSF Headquarters in New Delhi from 8 to 11 June.

Bangladesh and India share a border of more than 4,000 km, the longest land border between two neighbouring countries in the world.

The governments led by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in key border states such as Tripura, West Bengal and Assam have identified alleged undocumented migration as a policy priority.

They have also faced criticism over reported efforts to send Bengali-speaking Muslims, describing them as “illegal infiltrators”, into Bangladesh.

The next director general-level conference has been proposed to be held in Dhaka in November 2026, at a mutually convenient date.