The atmosphere ahead of the 57th Director General (DG)-level border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) remains tense as push-ins continue, especially from the Indian side.
The 57th conference also has much more political significance than usual.
This is the first DG-level talks between the border guard forces of the two countries since the BNP government came to power in February this year.
Although the talks will be held in New Delhi between June 8 and 11, there are concerns over what the outcome could be.
Ten people, including women and children, have remained stranded in no-man's land along the Barabari-Pradhanpara border in Panchagarh Sadar upazila for three days despite two rounds of flag meetings between the border forces.
Meanwhile, 16 others were stranded near the zero lines along the Thakurgaon and Dinajpur borders after similar BSF push-in attempts were blocked by BGB.
Again, no resolution could be found.
But these are only two of many examples.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the BGB said it had foiled eight more push-in attempts.
These took place in Jhenaidah, Naogaon, Lalmonirhat Panchagarh and Netrokona, among others.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday that Bangladesh will prioritise discussions on push-ins and border killings during the DG.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, the minister said the BGB remains on high alert along the border and is prepared to prevent any unauthorised crossings.
“Any attempt at illegal push-ins or unauthorised infiltration will be firmly resisted,” he said.
Salahuddin courted controversy after a remark on border killings on June 2.
Speaking at a briefing, he said, “If any foreign force kills someone by entering our border or at the zero line, then it can be called border killing. But if someone is involved in any sort of crimes within our borders and their borders or if someone commits illegal trespassing, then they [order forces] will address the issue as per their own local laws. In such cases, it should not be called border killing.”
The statement kicked off a firestorm of criticism.
At the four-day conference, a 15-member Bangladesh delegation, led by BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui will participate.
The Indian delegation will be led by the BSF Director General and will comprise senior BSF officials as well as representatives from India's Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and other relevant agencies.
Relations between Bangladesh and India have strained since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.
Against this backdrop, concerns have grown over the use of border-related issues as political tools amid the rise of nationalist sentiments in the region.
Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-kilometre border, including 2,216 kilometres with West Bengal, 856 kilometres with Tripura, 443 kilometres with Meghalaya, 318 kilometres with Mizoram, and 263 kilometres with Assam.
According to data from Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), 34 Bangladeshis have been killed by the BSF in 2025. Of them, 24 were reportedly shot dead, while 10 died after torture.