NEW DELHI: Bangladesh and India have agreed to strengthen cooperation along their shared border through enhanced intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols, as both countries seek to manage growing tensions over alleged undocumented migration.
The agreement was announced in a joint statement issued on Friday following a four-day meeting between senior officials of Bangladeshâs Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indiaâs Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi.
The two sides described the discussions as âcordial, positive and forward-lookingâ and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability along the border.
Officials also discussed issues related to âillegal, inadvertent and forcible crossing at border areasâ, a matter that has become increasingly sensitive in recent months.
Relations between the neighbouring countries have faced challenges since the 2024 removal of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, particularly over allegations that Indian authorities have attempted to push undocumented migrants into Bangladesh without following established procedures.
Dhaka has repeatedly objected to the alleged practice and says it has sent more than a dozen diplomatic communications to New Delhi seeking its end.
Bangladesh and India share a border stretching over 4,000 kilometres, making it one of the longest international borders in the world.
Indiaâs ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs several border states including Assam, Tripura and West Bengal, has identified undocumented migration as a key political issue and has intensified efforts to identify and deport individuals suspected of residing in India without legal documentation.
Bangladesh has accused Indian authorities of attempting to push Bengali-speaking Muslims labelled as âillegal infiltratorsâ across the border, allegations India has not publicly accepted.
The BGB says it has thwarted several alleged pushback attempts in recent weeks and has increased border security measures, including troop deployments, intelligence operations and drone surveillance.
Earlier this week, Bangladeshâs State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said any attempts to transfer people across the border without proper legal procedures were âabsolutely unacceptableâ and could harm efforts to improve bilateral relations.
India, meanwhile, stated in May that it had requested Bangladesh to verify the nationality of more than 2,860 suspected Bangladeshi nationals residing in India without formal documentation.
In addition to migration-related concerns, the latest talks covered human trafficking, smuggling, border fatalities, infrastructure development and implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan.
According to the joint statement, both countries agreed to strengthen coordinated patrols, improve vigilance, enhance real-time information sharing and increase cooperation against cross-border criminal networks.
âBoth sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, tranquillity and stability along the India-Bangladesh border,â the statement said.
The next meeting between senior border officials from the two countries is scheduled to take place in Dhaka in November.
