Relations between India and Bangladesh have become more strained following an incident at the India-Bangladesh border in Coochbehar, North Bengal, where Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) prevented the Border Security Force (BSF) from constructing a cattle fence. This event, which occurred on Thursday evening, has intensified the existing political tensions between the two nations amidst ongoing turmoil in Dhaka.
The fence in question was intended to prevent cattle from straying across the border, which often leads to disputes between local communities. According to a senior BSF official, the construction was part of a 2012 agreement between the two countries aimed at managing such cross-border issues. However, BGB personnel objected to the project, leading to a halt in construction.
Both BSF and BGB officials have confirmed that the situation did not escalate into violence. The matter is expected to be discussed at a high-level meeting of the director generals of the two border forces, scheduled to take place in Delhi this October. This meeting aims to resolve the current impasse and discuss ongoing border management issues.
In recent developments, BSF and BGB battalion commandants conducted a flag meeting at the border to address the conflict but did not resolve it. Increased patrolling has been reported on both sides of the border as tensions remain high.
The border situation has been particularly volatile since August 5, when Bangladesh’s Awami League government collapsed amid severe unrest. The former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka as violent protests against her administration intensified. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has since taken over, but the instability has led to heightened security measures on the border.
In another recent incident, BGB refused to return five Indian nationals who had accidentally drifted into Bangladesh while aiding BSF efforts to rescue smuggled animals in the Ganga River. Despite multiple flag meetings, the five individuals remain detained in a Bangladeshi prison.
The BSF has acknowledged BGB’s cooperation in handling issues related to illegal immigration and minority protection but has expressed concerns about potential shifts in BGB’s approach following the recent political changes in Bangladesh. The upcoming director generals’ meeting is anticipated to address these concerns and seek a resolution to ongoing border disputes.
