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.