BGB-BSF Conference: Border killing tops Dhaka's agenda
A five-day director-general level conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opens in Dhaka today, with the Bangladesh side giving top priority to stop border killings.
Killing of Bangladeshi nationals by the BSF goes on unabated for many years despite commitments from top BSF officials to bring down the number of such deaths to zero.
According to the rights body Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), 31 Bangladeshis were killed, 39 injured and 24 abducted by the Indian border guards last year. In the previous three years, the BSF killed 46, 33 and 26 Bangladeshis.
Besides, around 39 people were injured and 24 abducted last year, 73 hurt and 59 abducted in 2015, 63 injured and 110 abducted in 2014 and 84 hurt and 175 abducted in 2013. However, many of the abductees returned home later.
In January this year, the BSF killed two Bangladeshis and abducted nine, said ASK.
Trafficking of drugs, arms and ammunition from India, trespassing the border, development works within 150 yards of the international border, setting up of an effluent treatment plant (ETP) in the Indian side of Akhaura Integrated Check Post (ICP) and exchange of information about smugglers and criminals would also come up for discussion at the meeting that begins at 9.30am at the BGB headquarters in Pilkhana, said a BGB release on Friday.
Led by BSF DG K K Sharma, a 19-member Indian delegation will attend the conference. The delegation members include senior officials of the BSF, and home and foreign affairs ministries. The Indian team arrived in Dhaka yesterday.
On the other hand, BGB Director General Maj Gen Abul Hossain will lead the 28-member Bangladesh side. The team will include officials of the Prime Minister's Office, home and foreign ministries, Joint River Commission, Department of Narcotics Control, Survey of Bangladesh and the Department of Land Record and Survey.
After the conference, a Joint Record of Discussions would be signed by the two sides.
The Indian delegation is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Wednesday.215968746
Comments