ONE of the most tragic and unresolved human rights crises in South Asia is the deadly border killings by the Indian border forces. India鈥檚 Border Security Force kills Bangladeshi civilians despite the many bilateral agreements and repeated diplomatic assurances, frequently under the guise of stopping smuggling or illegal crossings. Recent events in 2025 make it abundantly clear that the cycle of violence is far from over and that immediate action is required.
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Grim statistical reality
IN THE first quarter of 2025 alone, at least 10 Bangladeshis were reportedly killed in the Bangladesh-India border, with multiple others injured or arrested in violent border clashes. One notable case occurred in early March in Panchagarh district, where Al Amin, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi, was shot dead approximately 150 metres from the border. According to Indian border force officials, the shooting happened during a confrontation with cattle smugglers, with the Indian guards claiming self-defence after one smuggler allegedly attacked an Indian border guard with a knife. However, the Border Guard Bangladesh strongly protested, condemning the killing as a violation of human rights and a breach of the bilateral consensus against the use of lethal weapons on the border. A formal protest was lodged, and the Bangladesh guards demanded justice and accountability.
Such incidents are not isolated. In 2024, 47 Bangladeshis were reportedly shot dead by the Indian guards, with 158 others arrested, according to the Human Rights Support Society. The persistence of these killings, despite diplomatic efforts, underscores the fragile and volatile nature of border security between the two countries.
The scale of the violence is staggering. Between 2000 and 2020, rights groups such as Odhikar and Ain O Salish Kendra documented at least 1,236 Bangladeshis killed and more than 1,145 injured in BSF shooting along the border. In the last decade alone, at least 305 Bangladeshis lost their lives and 282 sustained injuries, according to more recent data from 2015 to 2024.
These figures reveal a disturbing pattern of lethal force used disproportionately against civilians, many of whom are poor farmers or innocent bystanders. Despite India fencing over 3,200 kilometres of the border, the violence continues unabated, suggesting India鈥檚 鈥榮hoot-to-kill鈥� policy that disregards international norms on the use of force.
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Diplomatic strains, failed assurances
THE border killing has for long been a sore point in Bangladesh-India relations. The killing of 15-year-old Felani Khatun in 2011 became a global symbol of the human cost of this conflict, yet the violence has persisted for over a decade. The recent change in Bangladesh鈥檚 government in August 2024, following a mass uprising, has further complicated diplomatic ties, with the new administration taking a firmer stance on sovereignty and border security.
Despite a high-level director general conference between the Bangladesh and the Indian border forces in February 2025, where both sides agreed to reduce border killings to zero and increase joint patrols, the killings have not ceased. The agreement also included commitments to exchange intelligence, conduct joint inspections near border constructions, and raise public awareness in border communities. However, these promises remain largely on paper, as evidenced by continued shootings and arrests.
Experts and human rights advocates criticise the Indian approach as excessively militarised and 鈥榯rigger-happy鈥�, calling for a shift from lethal force to lawful and proportionate responses. Dr Mizanur Rahman, a former chair of Bangladesh鈥檚 National Human Rights Commission, underscores that international law authorises the use of force on the basis of strict proportionality and self-defence standards, which are frequently disregarded by the Indian border guards.
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Impact on Bangladeshis
THE human toll of these killings extends beyond the immediate loss of life. Border communities live in constant fear, their livelihoods disrupted by violence and harassment. Many victims are engaged in subsistence farming or cattle trading, activities that often require approaching the border. The trauma inflicted by losing family members, sometimes children like Felani or Swarna Das, deepens mistrust and resentment towards Indian authorities.
Anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh has been steadily intensifying, fuelled largely by the persistent killings of Bangladeshi civilians by the Indian Border Security Force along the border. These tragic incidents have sparked widespread outrage and resentment among the common people of Bangladesh, who see these acts as blatant violations of human rights and sovereignty. The repeated failure of Indian authorities to effectively curb the 鈥榮hoot-to-kill鈥� policy and hold perpetrators accountable has deepened public frustration.
Protests and anti-India rhetoric have become more frequent, with many Bangladeshis perceiving India鈥檚 stance as indifferent or even hostile towards their lives and dignity. This growing agitation is not limited to political circles; it permeates everyday conversations and social media, where narratives of injustice and calls for justice resonate strongly, further straining the historically friendly ties between the two nations.
This escalating hostility has poisoned the centuries-old people-to-people contact. The old history of cultural interaction, shared celebrations, family ties, and economic reliance has turned to anxiety, mistrust, and loss. Living under the shadow of deadly force, the daily reality of border villages has frayed the social fabric linking the people on both sides. Along with undermining grassroots goodwill, this mistrust hinders diplomatic efforts since public animosity fosters nationalist and opposition narratives that present India as a controlling 鈥榖ig brother鈥� apathetic to Bangladesh鈥檚 sovereignty and human rights.
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Way forward
THE question remains: when will the border killings end? The answer lies in political will and genuine commitment from both countries, especially India, to respect human rights and uphold bilateral agreements.
India must urgently revise its border management policies, replacing lethal force with non-lethal alternatives and ensuring accountability for violations. Bangladesh, for its part, should continue pressing for justice through diplomatic channels and international forums, if necessary.
Only through sustained dialogue, transparency, and respect for human dignity can the border be transformed from a zone of death into a space of peace and cooperation. Until then, the bloodshed will continue to stain the soil of two neighbouring nations that share not only a border but a common history and future. The persistence of these numbers despite repeated diplomatic dialogues highlights the urgent need for concrete action.
The ongoing border killings are not just statistics; they are human lives lost to a policy that prioritises force over justice. Ending this cycle is imperative 鈥� not only for the sake of bilateral relations but for the dignity and safety of the people living along this long and troubled border.
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Dr Mohammad Asaduzzaman is a professor of linguistics in the University of Dhaka and director general of the International Mother Language Institute.