BGB-BSF jointly working to ‘reduce’ border killings

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF) today said they are working separately and jointly to "reduce" the instances of killing of Bangladeshi nationals along the border.

The statement came as the two border protection forces wrapped up their four-day biannual border talks in New Delhi.

"We have discussed various measures to reduce these killing incidents. Sometimes, it was seen that there was misunderstanding or miscommunication between lower-level or ground-level troops and we (BGB and BSF) are working together on this issue," said BGB Director General Maj Gen AKM Nazmul Hasan at a media conference with his BSF counterpart Sujoy Lal Thaosen.

He noted that illegal migration from both sides has been an issue as the two countries share common culture and heritage and locals have friends and relatives residing on the other side of the border.

"We are working together to seal the border and undertaking joint patrolling so that incidents of illegal trespass do not take place," reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting the BGB DG.

The issue of border killings, which the BSF has linked to cross-border crimes like smuggling or attack on its personnel, has been a major irritant between the two neighbouring countries.

The chiefs of two border guard forces said they are taking a number of steps to reduce the killings.

"The BSF does not discriminate among criminals...when such an incident [killing] happens it is done as a last resort when the life of a BSF personnel who is on duty, is threatened," said the BSF chief.

"The BSF believes in the use of non-lethal weapons and this has been our policy, this has been made mandatory and it is followed rigorously. However, if found that excessive forcewas used by BSF personnel, we take legal action," he said.

Thaosen said BSF want to bring these incidents to the minimum and all efforts are being made in this goal to train the officers on the ground, he said.

The border guards of India and Bangladesh decided to initiate joint civil works on five development projects each along the 4,096 kms of shared boundary, which will help the local population on both sides.