THREE Bangladeshis allegedly having been tortured to death by India鈥檚 Border Security Force once again questions the commitment of Indian authorities to ending border killing. The police and the Border Guard Bangladesh found the bodies on three spots along the border with India near the River Ichhamati at Sharsha in Jashore on December 18. While the Border Guard Bangladesh and the local administration have only confirmed the recovery of the bodies and the bodies have marks of severe beating, local people and police personnel say that the three, along with two others, went to the border and were tortured to death by the Indian guards. While the authorities need to investigate the death and find the missing two, the incident suggests the sheer disregard of the Indian border force for international laws and bilateral agreements in border management. Dozens of conferences and talks between leaders of the two countries and directors general of border forces of India and Bangladesh and bilateral pledges appear to have yielded no result in ending the killing of Bangladeshis by India鈥檚 border guards.
The Indian guards and the political leaders have on many occasions promised to end border killing, but the Border Security Force has continued to use lethal weapons and torture and kill Bangladeshis. What is also gravely problematic in incidents of border killing is the claim made by Indian authorities that their border guards kill 鈥榗riminals鈥� and 鈥榮mugglers鈥� on the border. It is understood that cross-border smuggling happens along the Bangladesh-India border and such smuggling involves people from both sides of the border. There are agreements and international laws to be followed in dealing with smugglers. Indian authorities have on many occasions pledged to follow international laws and never use lethal weapons, but the Indian guards continue to pursue a shoot-to-kill policy, dishonouring the agreements and memoranda between Bangladesh and India. In many instances, Indian guards are also reported to have tortured and killed Bangladeshis, mostly farmers working on fields well inside the Bangladesh territory. At least 20 Bangladeshis, including teenagers, have so far been killed by Indian guards in 2024 while more than 1,300 Bangladeshis were killed by Indian guards between 2000 and 2023. Such highhandedness of, and disregard for, international border control protocol by the Border Security Force of India has remained a prickly issue among the two countries.
Border killing has remained a major obstacle to fostering good relations between Bangladesh and India. An end to border killing and a peaceful border could have been achieved if justice had been ensured in earlier incidents of border killing. But sadly, India has never brought any of those accused to justice. Dhaka should, therefore, push for an immediate implementation of a zero-border killing policy and take up the issue at international forums as it is a violation of international laws. Indian authorities should also deliver on their promises.