Staff Correspondent

In a viral video, a member of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) is seen chasing two Bangladeshi youths and shooting at them even after entering Bangladesh territory in Lalmonirhat several months ago.

Abdul Hamid, member from ward No. 7 of Chondropur Union Parishad in Kaliganj upazila, said the youths went to their paddy field to protect plants from grazing goats.

He said the BSF member was locked in a heated argument with the youths, then chased them and shot at them. Miraculously, they escaped unhurt.

The incident highlights how the BSF is violating the Indian Penal Code and international laws that do not allow shooting at or killing of even a smuggler at will.

However, neither the BSF nor the Indian government ever expressed concerns over incidents of killings, with justice yet to be ensured even for a single killing, said experts.

Rather the victims were termed smugglers and criminals, they said.

According to Odhikar, a human rights body, at least 582 Bangladeshi nationals were killed by the BSF in the last 15 and half years from 2009 to June this year. During the period, 761 other people suffered injuries.

Of the deceased, 13 were killed till June this year, 28 in 2023, 18 in 2022, 17 in 2021, 51 in 2020, 41 in 2019, 11 in 2018, 25 in 2017, 29 in 2016, 44 in 2015, 35 in 2014, 29 in 2013, 38 in 2012, 31 in 2011, 74 in 2010 and 98 in 2009.

The statists of Ain o Salish Kendra say at least 607 Bangladeshis lost their lives in BSF firing and torture from 2009 to June 2024.

The interim government, which assumed power on 8 August following the fall of the Awami League government, has taken a hard stance against the border killings. However, still there is no end to the killings.

Within a span of eight days, two Bangladeshi teenagers were shot to death by the BSF along the border.

On 1 September, the BSF killed Swarna Das, 13, along the Kulaura border in Moulvibazar district while Jayanta Kumar Singh, 14, was killed along the Baliadangi border in Thakurgaon in the early hours of Monday.

Prof Muhammad Omar Faruk of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University told the Daily Sun that the number of deaths in BSF firing and torture was calculated based on media reports.

However, the actual figure will be much higher as many incidents went unreported, he said.

The incidents of killings and injuries along the border have been taking place since the independence, Omar Faruk said. “But punishment couldn’t be ensured for even a single incident. Even no internal inquiry or investigation was done by the Bangladesh government,” he said.

He fears that there might a rise in border killings by BSF in future following the harsh stance of the interim government.

Crime expert and Dhaka University teacher Dr Md Tawohidul Haque told the Daily Sun that the border killing is considered an unfriendly issue between the two countries.

“Keeping the historic understanding, the two countries should mainly maintain the border protocol. But in some cases, local people with curiosity have failed to follow the rules and instructions. Furthermore, people with bad intentions have violated the protocol for unlawful purposes. This reality should be resolved through proactive actions and empathetic movements. Killing at the border is not a solution. Rather it needs mutual feelings and commitment not to kill the people,” he said.

Understanding and collaboration must be promoted by both countries to get a safe and secure border for all, Tawohidul said, underscoring the need for more dialogues on the issue.

No international law allows any forces to shoot or torture unarmed civilians anywhere in the world. Bangladesh and India have Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for border authorities of the two countries, 1975 and Coordinated Border Management Plan 2011.

According to article 8(i) of the Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for border authorities of the two countries, “If nationals of the one country ingress the working boundary and enter illegally and commit or attempt to commit an offence, the border security forces would be at liberty to take appropriate action in the exercise of the ‘right to private defence’ preferably without resorting to fire.”

And as per the 11(a) of the Coordinated Border Management Plan 2011, “Neither side will resort to use of lethal weapons except in self-defence against terrorists or smugglers. Patrols on both sides shall exercise maximum restraint; only after clear warning, may use force.”

In 2010, Human Rights Watch published a report, “Trigger Happy” where the international human rights organisation focused on the trigger-happy attitude of the BSF and the Indian government’s reluctance to instruct them to work according to the laws.