THE death of Bangladeshis continues at the hands of India鈥檚 Border Security Force, with at least 34 having died, after being shot or tortured by the Indian guards, during one year of the interim government. Rights group Ain O Salish Kendra says that 15 died in firing and from torture by the Indian guards in January鈥揓une. Two were killed in January, one in February, three in March, five in April, two in May and two in June. In 2024, as the rights group report says, two were killed in August, two in September, three in October and six in December. With the six having been killed in July, the figure stands at 34. In the latest event, the Indian guards killed two Bangladeshis in the Parashuram border in Feni early July 25. One of the wounded died in a hospital in Bangladesh and the other wounded, who Bangladesh Border Guard says Indian guards had taken away, died in a hospital in India, both in the morning. Yet another who was wounded in the firing managed to get into the Bangladeshi territory.
Bangladesh border guards are reported to have been planning to lodge protests with the Indian guards in connection with the incident. But such ritualistic protests have hardly been able to end the killing of Bangladeshis in the frontiers. Experts also say that the interim government has failed to boldly stand its ground on the issue with New Delhi. Ain O Salish Kendra lists 30 death at the hands of the Indian guards in 2024 and 31 in 2023. This shows that the situation has changed little. The Bangladesh Border Guard director general at the meeting in New Delhi in February 17鈥�20 urged his Indian counterpart to end killing in the frontiers. And, any sign is still forthcoming that the request has held water. The Indian authorities on many such occasions have said that they would end such border killing and use non-lethal weapons in border control. All the promises have fallen flat. Experts observe that New Delhi remains unwilling and Dhaka remains weak when it takes up the issue with India. This warrants that Dhaka should show enough boldness when it takes up the issue with New Delhi if it wants to end border death.
In such a situation, Dhaka should, therefore, show the required boldness in taking up the issue with New Delhi and take up the issue with regional and international forums effectively. Conscientious sections of Indian society should also rally against their government for an end to border death at the hands of Indian guards.
