Border killings strain Bangladesh-India ties despite restraint pledges

Border fatalities along the Bangladesh-India frontier continue to raise concern despite repeated commitments from India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to minimise the use of lethal force and work towards a “zero killing” policy.

The issue has resurfaced following the recent shooting incident along the Kasba border in Brahmanbaria, where two Bangladeshi nationals were reportedly killed by BSF personnel on 9 May. The victims included Morsalin, an HSC second-year student, and Nabi Hossain, 40. Family members of the deceased alleged that BSF members opened fire near the border and later took the bodies to a hospital in Agartala.

The fresh deaths have intensified debate over the effectiveness of existing border management mechanisms between Bangladesh and India, especially at a time when both countries are trying to improve diplomatic engagement and strengthen bilateral relations.

According to rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 91 Bangladeshis have been killed and 87 injured in alleged BSF firing incidents between January 2023 and May 2026. The data shows that 26 people were killed in 2023, 30 in 2024, and 31 in 2025, while four deaths have already been recorded this year.

Despite several Director General-level meetings between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF, as well as repeated discussions on using non-lethal measures such as rubber bullets, human rights groups say most fatalities still result from gunfire.

Analysts believe that continued border violence risks undermining efforts to build stronger relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. Since the formation of the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, bilateral contacts have increased, with both sides expressing interest in expanding cooperation on trade, connectivity, and regional stability.

However, experts argue that political commitments alone are insufficient unless accompanied by effective implementation on the ground. They have called for increased joint patrols, improved real-time communication between border forces, transparent investigations into each incident, and accountability for the use of excessive force.

Human rights activist Saidur Rahman said the number of killings has decreased compared to previous years but remains unacceptable. He stressed that people living near the border often cross or move close to frontier areas for practical reasons such as farming or cattle-related work and should not be treated as hostile targets.

Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also urged India to stop border killings, saying repeated bloodshed along the frontier cannot help build a stable and friendly relationship between the two neighbouring countries.