BSF DG flags BGB’s ‘delay, denial’ in taking ‘illegal’ Bangladesh immigrants sent back from India

The matter was raised at a conference with Border Guard Bangladesh DG in Dhaka, along with issues, like crime at the border & 'misinterpretation of border issues by Bangladesh media’.

BSF DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary with BGB chief Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui at the conference this week in Dhaka | By special arrangement

New Delhi: At a Director General-level conference between the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh this week, the chief of India’s Border Security Force highlighted the delay and denial by Border Guard Bangladesh in taking over Bangladesh nationals apprehended by Indian law enforcement authorities for illegally entering India.

Representing BSF, deployed across the eastern border with Bangladesh, Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary also flagged a series of assaults, including stone pelting and abuse by criminals based across the border. 

The latest DG-level conference was held from Tuesday to Thursday in Dhaka, marking the second such meeting this year, and the first in Dhaka since the interim government took over in Dhaka, following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August last year amid student-led protests.

The issue of BGB “delaying and denying” entry to Bangladesh nationals holds particular importance as police forces across the country are in the middle of a drive to weed out illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Chawdhwary also highlighted issues such as the “misinterpretation of border issues by Bangladeshi media”, and the establishment of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for all four canals carrying wastewater from Agartala to Akhaura.

BGB was represented by its chief, Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, who spoke about “intrusion into Bangladesh territory by BSF/Indian police/ Indian nationals”, as well as the establishment of the ETP, among other things.

The DGs of the BSF and BGB mutually agreed to resolve all issues to maintain a cordial relationship.

“Both sides appreciated each other’s concerns and agreed to undertake joint efforts to curb trans-border crime by adopting extra precautionary measures such as increasing Coordinated Patrols, enhancing vigilance and sincere commitments. Both sides also agreed to undertake joint efforts to bring down the number of incidents of assault/border crime by intensifying public awareness programmes, undertaking appropriate socio-economic developmental programmes in vulnerable areas, educating border population about the sanctity of IB and preventing criminals/inhabitants from crossing the IB,” a BSF spokesperson said.

“Both sides agreed to take effective steps to continue to sensitise the border populace to refrain from Violation of IB/Illegal crossing/Intrusion, smuggling, human trafficking, uprooting Border Pillars and other trans-border crimes.”

The conference concluded with both chiefs agreeing to hold the next round of the conference in March 2026 in New Delhi.

(Edited by Mannat Chugh)