Bangladesh, India agree to bring down border killings to zero

Bangladesh and India have agreed to take effective measures to bring down border killings of Bangladeshi nationals to zero level and conduct joint inspection in case of carrying out any construction within 150 yards of the frontiers. The two countries reached the agreement after a four-day Director General (DG) level conference of the two border forces-Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Se

Bangladesh and India have agreed to take effective measures to bring down border killings of Bangladeshi nationals to zero level and conduct joint inspection in case of carrying out any construction within 150 yards of the frontiers. 

The two countries reached the agreement after a four-day Director General (DG) level conference of the two border forces-Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF) of India held on February 17-20 in Indian capital New Delhi.

A 13-member Bangladesh delegation led by BGB DG Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui participated in the conference. 

On the other hand, a 13-member Indian delegation was led by BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary in the conference.

A joint statement was issued after the conference in which both the friendly countries have agreed on some issues of bilateral interest, said a BGB press release issued here today.

"In order to reduce the incidents of shooting/killing/injuring/beating of unarmed citizens at the border to zero level, both sides agreed to increase joint patrols in vulnerable areas of the border," the joint statement said.

It also said that both the countries agreed to exchange immediate and advance intelligence information that would benefit both border forces, undertake public awareness programmes among the people living in the border areas and undertake various socio-economic and developmental programmes, and take necessary measures after proper investigation in case of any killing on the border.

During the conference emphasis was laid on the importance of forming a joint inspection team consisting of representatives of the appropriate authorities of both countries for inspection of any construction, barbed wire fence, any construction used for defense or bunker within 150 yards of the border and construction based on a Joint Record of Discussion (JRD