Delhi yet to respond to Dhaka's proposal

Bangladesh has made a written proposal for the use of rubber bullets, instead of lethal weapons, by the border guards of India so that the loss of lives during border trespassing can be avoided, said home ministry officials.
Bangladesh has also worked out the modalities of border management incorporating an option for arrest without shooting at anyone. The modalities were sent to India four months ago.
"The Indian authorities then hinted that they would consider the proposal but they are yet to respond to it, and thus the two sides could not sit and finalise the modalities," said a home ministry official.
The official said the modalities described how border guards should operate without lethal weapons.
As per the Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities 1975, the border forces of either country can arrest, try or turn intruders back following necessary communications. Killing of civilians is a violation of the border agreement and international human rights.
"The Indian authorities are sincerely considering our proposal as they are also keen to stop border killing," Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told The Daily Star in June.
"We are waiting for their response," he added.
Use of non-lethal arms was first discussed at the home secretary-level talks between the two countries last December. The issue also came up in bilateral talks during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi early January.
In March, the matter was discussed between the directors general of the border forces of Bangladesh and India.
Meanwhile, the home ministry on May 16 imposed restriction on night-time movement of people in the border areas. The decision came against the backdrop of rising incidents of killing by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and drug smuggling.
In the last decade, BSF killed 910 Bangladeshis and most of the shooting took place at night, according to a report of rights organisation Odhikar.
Sources in the home ministry said the decision to impose restriction on night-time movement came following India's request.
The Indian government had earlier restricted nighttime movement on their side of the border and eventually, the number of casualty came down.
The home secretary said the decision is turning out to be very successful as no casualty occurred on the borders since the restriction.