- Between 2000 and 2020 alone, Human Rights Watch reported over 1,000 deaths of Bangladeshi nationals due to BSF firing.
Border Security Force (BSF) sector commanders stationed along the India-Bangladesh border have strongly opposed a verbal order from the paramilitary force’s Director General to halt firing along the international boundary for a period of seven to ten days.
The immediate reason for this directive by the BSF leadership may be linked to a controversy surrounding the death of a Bangladeshi national, Ishaque Ali Khan Panna, a former member of the Bangladesh Chhatra League. Panna was reportedly attempting to cross the India-Bangladesh border near Meghalaya on August 23 when he died.
A total of 20 BSF sector commanders, along with at least six Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) responsible for the ‘G Branch’ (which handles intelligence gathering), opposed Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary’s verbal order. This order followed a written directive issued on August 24, which called for a one-day suspension of firing by the troops.
Between 2000 and 2020 alone, Human Rights Watch reported over 1,000 deaths of Bangladeshi nationals due to BSF firing. In many cases, these shootings have been described as extrajudicial killings, with victims often unarmed and involved in minor border-related activities such as cattle smuggling or simply crossing the border. Reports indicate that many victims were shot without any prior warning, which goes against international norms and principles of necessity and proportionality in the use of lethal force.
During a video call with Additional Director General (East) Ravi Gandhi, several sector commanders, typically holding the rank of DIG, argued that halting firing would encourage cross-border smuggling, lead to breaches in border fencing, and facilitate other anti-social activities along the sensitive stretches of the India-Bangladesh border.
Despite the strong opposition from the sector commanders, the BSF leadership enforced the DG’s verbal order.
Meanwhile, Panna’s family members have intensified their efforts to locate his body, which the BSF stated on August 26 is being held by the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) at a location called Donna Cherra in Sylhet. The Indian border outpost opposite Donna Cherra is named Donna and is located in Meghalaya.
In response to initial Bangladeshi media reports claiming that Panna was shot dead by the BSF while trying to cross into India, BSF Inspector General Harbux Singh Dhillon denied that his troops had fired at the Bangladeshi national. Dismissing the reports as an “absolute lie,” Dhillon stated, “The body was found in Donna Cherra, which is inside Bangladesh. According to the information we received, the body lay there for 5-6 hours before Bangladeshi authorities retrieved it.”
Highlighting that the BGB had not raised any issue regarding Panna’s body with the BSF since the incident “did not happen in India,” the BSF mentioned that there were rumors suggesting Panna had been treated at a local hospital.
The 19th Battalion of the BGB, also known as the Zakiganj Battalion, is deployed along the stretch of the border that includes Donna Cherra.
Speaking to Northeast News over the phone on the condition of anonymity, a close relative of Panna said the family is desperately “running from pillar to post” to get the Bangladesh foreign ministry and the BGB to act swiftly in locating the body.
This relative added that earlier attempts to prompt the foreign ministry to act on a written application to locate Panna’s body had been unsuccessful, as most officials were occupied with reorganization efforts following the political upheaval in Bangladesh.
The BGB has yet to comment on the circumstances surrounding Panna’s death. Meanwhile, BSF sources have suggested that Panna might have been lynched by a mob within Bangladeshi territory or possibly shot by the BGB itself, leading to the death of the Awami League leader.
The India-Bangladesh Border: The World’s Most Violent Border
The India-Bangladesh border is often cited as the most violent in the world. The Border Security Force (BSF) of India has been known to shoot and kill Bangladeshi citizens deliberately, a practice that continued unabated even during the 15 years of the pro-Indian government in Bangladesh. Over the past 53 years of Bangladesh’s existence since gaining independence in 1971, it is estimated that the BSF has killed several thousand Bangladeshi citizens. Human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Ain o Salish Kendra have repeatedly documented these incidents, highlighting a pattern of excessive use of force by the BSF.
Between 2000 and 2020 alone, Human Rights Watch reported over 1,000 deaths of Bangladeshi nationals due to BSF firing. In many cases, these shootings have been described as extrajudicial killings, with victims often unarmed and involved in minor border-related activities such as cattle smuggling or simply crossing the border. Reports indicate that many victims were shot without any prior warning, which goes against international norms and principles of necessity and proportionality in the use of lethal force.
The continuous violence along this border has caused significant tension between India and Bangladesh. Despite diplomatic efforts to reduce the number of fatalities, the BSF’s practices have not significantly changed. The Bangladesh government, even under pro-Indian leadership, struggled to protect its citizens from these violent incidents. The BSF justifies its actions by citing the need to prevent cross-border smuggling and illegal immigration, but critics argue that the lethal force used is often disproportionate to the threat posed.
The ongoing violence underscores the deep-seated issues in managing the border, which stretches over 4,096 kilometers, making it one of the longest borders in the world. The densely populated and often poorly demarcated regions create a challenging environment for border security. Additionally, the economic disparity between the two countries fuels illegal activities such as smuggling, which further complicates the security situation.
In light of the recent order by the BSF Director General to suspend firing along the border for a brief period, the opposition from sector commanders reflects a broader institutional resistance to changing long-standing policies. These commanders fear that a cessation of firing would lead to increased illegal activities, which could jeopardize border security. However, human rights advocates argue that reducing the use of lethal force could pave the way for more humane border management practices and improve bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether the BSF’s leadership will maintain the temporary ceasefire or revert to its previous policies. Meanwhile, the families of those affected by the border violence continue to seek justice and accountability for the deaths of their loved ones.
