By S. Habib

Border studies are ‘relatively slow to develop in Asia, even though they are of particular importance in the exceptionally multi-ethnic and multi-linguistic social landscapes that characterize much of Asia’. South Asia, the southern region of the Asian continent, comprises the sub-Himalayan countries including adjoining countries on the east and the west. South Asian borders are illogical, arbitrary, ill defined and physically varied. They are at the same time rigid and porous with regard to movement of people and goods. In case of Bangladesh, it is surrounded by India from three sides with 4096 km (fifth-longest land border in the world), improperly managed land border, which make the bordering region a bone of contention between the two neighbors. Border runs through five states of Bangladesh namely, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Managing such a diverse border is a complex task but vital from the point of view of national security.

As the border area is densely populated and agricultural cultivation is carried out to the last inch of the border area by the people on both sides, therefore this border is easily used as a route for smuggling livestock, food items, medicines, and drugs and illegal immigrants between both countries which results in acute border tensions.

India's border guarding organisation Border Security Force (BSF) is deployed on its side with Bangladesh border for surveillance and prevention whereas  Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), a paramilitary force responsible for the security of Bangladesh's border side. Because of a large number of illegal immigrants crossing, a controversial shoot-on-sight policy has been enforced by the Indian border patrols. This policy was initiated with reports of violence between the illegal migrants and Indian soldiers. The border inhabitants has also witnessed occasional skirmishes between the BSF and the BGB. Out of 4,096.km International Border between India and Bangladesh, almost 75% of IB has been fenced by Government of India however, remaining fencing feasible stretches is yet to be completed.

It was witnesses in July 2009 that hundreds of Indians and Bangladeshis were killed by the BSF along the Indo-Bangladeshi border fence during its construction. The BSF state that the fence's main purpose is to check illegal immigration and to prevent cross-border terrorism. In 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued an 81-page report which documented a number abuses committed by the BSF. The report was compiled from the interviews of abuse victims, witnesses, members of the BSF, and its Bangladeshi counterpart, the BGB. The report stated that over 900 Bangladeshi citizens were killed during the first decade of the 21st century, many of whom crossed the border for cattle rustling or other smuggling activities. However, the report also noted that some were killed due to "indiscriminate firing from across the border". The HRW called for a joint independent investigation to be conducted by both governments. However, the three-layered fence to secure India’s eastern border hasn’t been able to deter illegal migrants and all variety of smugglers. BSF had been blamed that some corrupt soldiers do accept inducements from infiltrators.

Another concern was border enclaves on both sides of international border. The enclaves that ran along the border between the two nations were a longstanding feature of the region. The enclaves were reputedly part of a high-stakes card game or chess games centuries ago between two regional kings, the Raja of Cooch Behar and the Maharaja of Rangpur, and the result of the confused outcome of a treaty between the Kingdom of Koch Bihar and the Mughal Empire. After the partition of India in 1947, Cooch Behar district merged with India and Rangpur went to then-East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh in 1971.

The prime ministers of India and Bangladesh signed a Land Boundary Agreement in 1974 to exchange all enclaves and simplify the international border. In 1974 Bangladesh approved the proposed Land Boundary Agreement, but India did not ratify it. In 2011 the two countries again agreed to exchange enclaves and adverse possessions. A revised version of the agreement was finally adopted by the two countries when the Parliament of India passed the 119th Amendment to the Indian Constitution on 7 May 2015. There were nearly 200 enclaves and counter-enclaves that existed on both sides of the border up until 2015.

Both countries have had productive exchanges on border management and common security-related issues. The India and Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) also concluded talks after discussing bilateral issues including the illegal crossing of the border and measures to combat terrorism as per 18th meeting of the India-Bangladesh JWG on Security and Border Management which was held on December 5 and 6, 2022.

Aforesaid, uncertain borders not only raise bilateral tensions but also facilitate cross-border infiltration, illegal migration, smuggling and crime. The border fence stands 150 yards inside Indian territory, often on agricultural fields of farmers who need to identify themselves daily at the border gates to go to work. A high volume of informal trade, mostly cattle and goods of everyday use, takes place across the India-Bangladesh land border, frequently with the tacit consent of anti-smuggling enforcement agencies. Playing an endless cat-and-mouse game, the Indian BSF border guards run behind “infiltrators” or “smugglers”, and sometimes even goats and hens that stray from one rural landholding in Bangladesh to the adjoining one in India. Instances of major violence and shootings by BSF guards of “infiltrators” have caused unpopular uproar. Migrants, traders, smugglers and locals visiting family or friends nevertheless subvert the border on a daily basis with the support of borderland people on both sides.

In pursuance, it might be useful to consider soft border policies and efficient management of borders to make the movement of goods and people easier and more humane borders should not be looked as a military unit as well.

WASHINGTON, 09 December 2022, (TON): State Department Spokesperson Ned Price has reiterated President Joe Biden’s pledge of taking action in a way that protects our interests if the US sees “international terrorists regrouping in Afghanistan”.

The statement came in response to a question asked during a press briefing about the rise of violence in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s failure to not provide safe havens to terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and others.

Price said that the Afghan Taliban had been either unable or unwilling to live up to the commitments that they’ve made in a number of areas and that the US’ broader goal was to make sure that terrorists and others aren’t able to use Afghanistan as a launch pad for attacks on Pakistan.

GIURGIU, 09 December 2022, (TON): After more than 10 years waiting to be admitted into the Schengen zone, Bulgaria and Romania were once more turned away after two EU countries vetoed their admission.

Now some observers warn that both countries face a rising tide of euroskepticism as they remain outside the coveted zone through which passport checks are not normally required.

Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca spoke of his profound disappointment after Austria blocked their admission.

In Bulgaria, President Rumen Radev regretted what he described as the internal borders he said “were being put up with the European Union bloc.”

WASHINGTON, 09 December 2022, (TON): American and Russian officials said “Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the US releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.”

The swap, at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine, achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price and left behind an American jailed for nearly four years in Russia.

The deal, the second such exchange in eight months with Russia, procured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad. Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose monthslong imprisonment on drug charges brought unprecedented attention to the population of wrongful detainees.

RIYADH, 09 December 2022, (TON): While bolstering trade ties and strategic cooperation during President Xi Jinping’s three-day visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and China have also prioritized cross-cultural exchange to help cement the diplomatic relationship.

On the sidelines of Xi’s visit, an event titled “From the East to the East and the Selected Exhibition of Famous Arab Artists Visiting China” was held in the Palace of Culture to showcase the work of Arab and Chinese artists and musicians.

Sponsored by the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Arab League, in cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Information, the event featured a traditional Ardah performance and a Chinese dance routine.

DHAKA, 09 December 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the international community to step up pressure on the Myanmar government and compel it to create conditions conducive for the repatriation of the Rohingya people to their homeland with safety and dignity.

She said Bangladesh had provided temporary shelter to more than 1.1 million Rohingyas, who were forced to flee en masse to evade genocidal atrocities from their ancestral homes in Myanmar.

The premier reiterated her government's commitment to preventing genocide and sought cooperation from the international community to prevent such crimes and promote a culture of peace all over the world, BSS reported.

DHAKA, 09 December 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and South Korea signed an agreement to launch a two-year project on the transport master plan and a preliminary feasibility study for urban metro rail transit construction in Chittagong city.

South Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, in collaboration with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, the Road Transport and Highways Division, and the Road Transport And Bridges Ministry, signed the deal ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-South Korea ties next year.

DTCA under the Road Transport and Highways Division will be the partner of KOICA to implement the project.

MOSCOW, 09 December 2022, (TON): The Russian Foreign Ministry said “the main goal of a proposed safety zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine was to stop Ukraine shelling.”

Both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of shelling the plant, Europe’s biggest nuclear power station, risking causing a nuclear accident.

The plant has come under repeated shelling since Russia seized it shortly after launching its invasion in February, prompting the IAEA nuclear safety watchdog to call for a demilitarised safety zone around the plant.

RIYADH, 09 December 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia announced it will host the next ministerial meeting of the International Coalition to Defeat Daesh in 2023, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Kingdom made the announcement during its participation in the meeting of the coalition’s political directors, which was held in The Hague.

Press Agency statement said “the Kingdom’s announcement is an embodiment of its active role as a strategic partner in the international coalition, is in line with the international efforts made by the Kingdom to combat terrorist entities in all their forms and manifestations, and its role in supporting international cooperation to combat these entities.”

The coalition welcomed the Kingdom’s announcement to host the ministerial meeting next year.

RIYADH, 09 December 2022, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported “Saudi Arabia’s King Salman received Thursday China’s President Xi Jinping in Riyadh during his official visit to the Kingdom.”

The king welcomed the Chinese leader and his accompanying delegation to his country, while Xi expressed his happiness at visiting the Kingdom.

During the meeting, which was held at Al-Yamama Palace in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, they reviewed “the historical friendship” between Riyadh and Beijing, and ways to enhance them in various fields.