India, Bangladesh Step Up Border Security Cooperation Amid Illegal Immigration Concerns; Key Measures Planned

Amid concerns over illegal immigration and cross-border movement, India and Bangladesh have agreed to strengthen border management through enhanced intelligence sharing and coordinated patrolling along their 4,000-km-long border, according to a joint statement released on Friday.

The decision was taken in New Delhi during the four-day meeting between the senior officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). “Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, tranquillity, and stability along the India-Bangladesh border,” Reuters quoted the joint statement.

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Focus On Preventing Illegal Border Crossings 

The joint statement said they have agreed to step up coordinated patrolling and effective and real-time sharing of intelligence with each other so as to prevent "illegal, inadvertent and forced crossings" across the border.

This development comes at a time when relations between the two neighbours have reached a breaking point following illegal migration. Dhaka has several times criticised the push-back efforts by India, saying such practices are against legal norms.

India's Crackdown On Illegal Immigration 

India, on the other hand, has become more determined to identify and deport all illegal immigrants, particularly from its states that share the border with Bangladesh. The Narendra Modi government has been vocal that issues of illegal immigration will be one of the highest priorities in border states like West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.

Bangladesh's foreign ministry has sent a lot of diplomatic communications to New Delhi to stop sending people to Bangladesh without verification. According to Border Guard Bangladesh, several such push-back attempts have been foiled by them recently, and they have enhanced border security with more troops and greater surveillance.

In May, India requested that Bangladesh verify the nationality of more than 2,860 individuals suspected to be Bangladeshi citizens but lacking official identity documents.

Dhaka Calls Forced Returns 'Unacceptable' 

Earlier this week, Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaid Islam, reiterated Dhaka's position, saying that sending people into Bangladesh without following due process was "absolutely unacceptable" and could negatively impact efforts to improve bilateral ties.

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Apart from illegal migration, the BSF and BGB also discussed issues related to:

• Human trafficking 
• Smuggling
• Border-related deaths
• Infrastructure development
• Implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, security and stability along the border. The next round of talks between senior border officials is scheduled to be held in Dhaka in November.

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