BSF And Bangladesh Force To Discuss Border-Related Issues During Delhi Meet From Feb 17, Says MEA

The Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh are set to meet in Delhi to discuss border-related issues from February 17 to 20.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India expects all mutually agreed MOUs and agreements with Bangladesh will be honoured.

Source : PTI

India on Friday said the border-related issues with Bangladesh are scheduled to be discussed in February in DG-level talks between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

In a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the talks are scheduled to be held from February 17 to 20, 2025. He further said that India expects all the mutually agreed MOUs and agreements would be honoured. 

"The DG-level talks between BSF and BGB are scheduled from February 17 to 20, 2025 in New Delhi during which border-related issues are proposed to be discussed. We expect all mutually agreed MOUs and Agreements to be honoured. These form the basis for structured engagements between the border guarding forces and facilitate creation of mutually beneficial security and trade infrastructure along the border," he said.

Last Friday, the MEA spokesperson reiterated India's commitment to ensuring a crime-free border with Bangladesh, highlighting the need for improved security measures and adherence to the signed bilateral agreements.

This came after Bangladesh's acting high commissioner Mohammad Nural Islam was summoned by the external affairs ministry to South Block on January 13, a day after Dhaka expressed concern over New Delhi's border fencing work. He was informed that all protocols and agreements were being observed by India in accordance with the understandings between the two governments.

Commenting on this, Jaiswal had said during the last week briefing that India made its position regarding the border row very clear to Bangladesh. "We had summoned the acting deputy high commissioner and made our position on border fencing very clear. We remain committed to ensuring a crime-free border with Bangladesh by effectively addressing cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, and trafficking."

Jaiswal also said that measures for securing border such as barbed wire fencing, cattle fences, border lighting, and installation of technical devices will be implemented by Bangladesh, keeping up with previous understandings to combat border-related crimes and to strengthen border security.

 Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma was also summoned by Bangladesh's foreign ministry on January 12, where the neighbouring country expressed "deep concern" over "unauthorised" construction of border fencing by the BSF.

The border row with Bangladesh began after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina  was ousted and a caretaker regime led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was established in August last year. It further escalated after Dhaka recently claimed that India was attempting to build border fences at five different locations along shared borders, which Bangladesh claimed breaches a bilateral agreement.