BGB, BSF discuss joint efforts to fight trans-border crime

Border guards of Bangladesh and India discussed commencing joint efforts to fight trans-border crimes and illegal cross-border movement, including simultaneous coordinated patrol at the frontier in West Bengal.

The matters were discussed at the Border Coordination Conference between the inspector general of India's Border Security Force (BSF) and region commanders of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), which began in Kolkata on November 13. The conference is set to conclude tomorrow.

Both the BGB and BSF decided to enhance information-sharing to check trans-border crimes.

A press statement issued by the BSF on the conference stated, "During the meeting, both sides shared their agenda points. The matter related to a coordinated border management plan was also discussed which included simultaneous coordinated patrols both during day and night; sharing of intelligence; identification of vulnerable areas and increased frequency of meetings at all levels."

India and Bangladesh agreed to bring border killings down to "zero" during bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during the latter's visit to Delhi in September this year. A joint statement was also issued during her four-day trip by both India and Bangladesh, claiming that killings along the border have decreased significantly. 

The statement also mentioned that various issues of mutual interest for effective border management were brought up during the conference.

Bangladesh and West Bengal share 2,216.7 km-border.