Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border

Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border occur many times a year as result of people allegedly attempting to illegally cross or walk along the border, cross-border firing and suspected cattle smuggling.^[1] Bangladesh and India share a 4,096 km (2,545 mi) border.^[2] To prevent suspected smuggling and illegal migration from Bangladesh, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) exercises its controversial "shoot on sight" policy. Under this policy, the BSF can shoot any person on sight with or without cause.^[3] A large portion of the victims are cattle traders and farmers with land near the border.^[4]

According to a report published by Human rights organisations, around 1,000 Bangladeshi civilians were killed by Indian BSF in a period of 10 years (from 2001 to 2010).^[5][6] The report also states that Indian paramilitary forces routinely threaten, abuse, arbitrarily detain and torture local Bangladeshi civilians living along the border and Bangladeshi border guards usually don't help the Bangladeshi civilians.^[5][6][7] Odhikar, a Bangladesh-based human rights organisation, alleges that acts of rape and looting have also been perpetrated by BSF at the border areas.^[8]

Illegal migration

In some border areas, strong fences are installed by India

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) exercises its controversial "shoot on sight" policy to stop illegal migration. The then-head of BSF, Raman Srivastava, stated that people should not feel sorry for the victims as they were trying to illegally enter into India and therefore they are a legitimate target.^[3] Killings along the Bangladesh–India border are routine and arbitrary. Around 1,000 people, mostly Bangladeshi nationals, were killed by Indian border security forces over the period of 10 years (2001 to 2010).^[5] None of the Indian BSF personnel involved in killings along the border was ever prosecuted.^[3] A 2010 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report stated that BSF justified killing by claiming that it was an act of self-defence, or that the suspects were evading arrest.^[9][10] However, the reports filed by the BSF with the Indian police don't show recovery of any lethal weapon or explosives from the victim which justifies self-defense.^[10] Several survivors and eyewitnesses of BSF attacks allege that the BSF resort to indiscriminate shooting without issuing any warning.^{[citation needed]}

Often, Indian border guards kill a person and leave his body near the fence or hang him in the camp to show the extent of power exercised by BSF.^{[citation needed]} Odhikar, a Bangladesh-based human rights organisation, allege that BSF and Indian miscreants have also committed acts of rape against Bangladeshi women along the border.^[11]

Human Right Watch reports that the BSF, which has long record of severe human right abuses, is exempt from criminal prosecution, unless it is specifically ordered by the Indian government to undertake a prosecution in a particular case.^[10] Brad Adams, then the Asia director of Human Rights Watch, stated in 2011 that "Routinely shooting poor, unarmed villagers is not how the world's largest democracy should behave."^[3]

While speaking about border killings in a 2022 interview, India-based human rights activist Kiriti Roy from Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) noted the existence of barbed wire fences in Indian territories which are within 150 yards from zero point ("no man's land"). He pointed out that per Geneva Convention, defence infrastructure cannot be built within this 150-yard zone.^[12] In January 2025, BSF reportedly attempted to construct more barbed wire fences along the zero line in violation of the international law.^[13][14]

Killing of Felani Khatun

Main article: Killing of Felani Khatun

On 7 January 2011, a 15-year-old girl, Felani, was shot dead while illegally entering Bangladesh from India by the BSF in Phulbari Upazila, Kurigram.^[15] She had gotten stuck in the barbed wire when she was shot and she remained there for 5 hours until she bled to death.^[4] This resulted in protests in Bangladesh.^[16] In 2015, the National Human Rights Commission of India asked the Indian government to pay ₹500,000 as compensation to her family.^[17][18]

Killing, abduction and torture

According to a 2023 report by Odhikar, the BSF routinely kills, abducts and tortures Bangladeshi citizens despite repeatedly pledging to stop using lethal weapons.^[19] Kiriti Roy also highlighted that "in most of the cases, they (BSF) are killing farmers of their own country."^[12]

Indian claims against Border Guard Bangladesh

Some Indian nationals were also reported to have been killed by Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) on suspicion of being a smuggler. On 21 January 2012, Indian officials claimed that four BGB soldiers crossed into India and killed an Indian national. The soldiers were trying to drag the body of the Indian national when they were stopped by Indian locals who gathered at the site after hearing gun shots. The locals captured one BGB soldiers while the other three BGB soldiers managed to flee. The Bangladeshi officials claim that the slain Indian national was a smuggler, however, Indian officials claim that the slain Indian national was just a farmer.^[20]

On 7 April 2015, Indian officials reported that BGB had crossed 10 kilometres into Indian territory and killed two Indian nationals. The body of one Indian national was taken back by Bangladesh. The incident created tensions between BSF and BGB. The Bangladeshi officials claimed that the killed Indian nationals were smugglers.^[21]

On 24 September 2024, the BGB detained a BSF personnel for reportedly crossing into the Bangladesh through the boundary near pillar number 334/sub-pillar 6.^[22] The personnel was found in uniform but unarmed, and the Bangladeshi officials were preparing to return the detained member to the Indian authorities through a flag meeting.^[23] However, Indian media later reported that the BSF made a strong protest to the BGB in its response and that they considered this an "abduction" of one of its soldiers. The personnel was returned later in the day following a flag meeting.^[24]

Cross border firing

India-Bangladesh border clashes
Date 2001 – ongoing Location Bangladesh–India border Status Ongoing Decline in Bangladesh–India relations[25]
Belligerents
India	Bangladesh
Units involved
Border Security Force (BSF)	Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB)
Casualties and losses
India claim: 19 soldiers killed[26][27][28] 4,225 BSF personnel injured by smugglers[29]	Bangladesh claim: 6 soldiers killed[30][31][32] At least 1,923 Bangladeshi civilians were killed by the BSF between 2000 and 2023[33][11]

2001 border clash

2001 Bangladesh-Indian border clash
Part of Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border
Date 16 April 2008 - 20 April 2001 Location Bangladesh–India border Result 24 civilians injured 10,000 civilians temporarily displaced
Belligerents
Bangladesh	India
Units involved
Border Guard Bangladesh	BSF 117th Battalion
Strength
700-1000 soilder included local civilians	300+ troops
Casualties and losses
3 killed 5 wounded	16 killed 2 wounded

Main article: 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes

From 16 to 20 April 2001, India and Bangladesh exchanged gunfire in a border clash. 16 BSF soldiers were killed in the clash.

2005 border clash

2005 Bangladesh-Indian border clash
Part of Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border
Date 16 April 2005 Location Bangladesh–India border Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Bangladesh	India	cattle smuggler
Units involved
Border Guard Bangladesh	BSF 117th Battalion
Casualties and losses
2 civilians killed	12 soldiers killed

On 16 April 2005, India and Bangladesh border troops engaged in gun battle that resulted in death of two Indian border soldiers and two Bangladeshi civilians.^[27] A Bangladesh border guard stated that the bodies of an Indian border soldier and an officer were lying inside Bangladeshi territory.^[27][34] Bangladeshi border guards claim that a platoon of Indian border guards along with some 100 Indian civilians entered into Bangladesh territory and looted in Hirapur village. Indian border guards and civilians intrusion in Bangladesh prompted Bangladesh border guards to retaliate.^[35] However, according to Indian military officials, Indian border guards had requested a flag meeting to secure the release of an Indian villager abducted earlier by Bangladesh border guards. Bangladesh border guards instead abducted BSF officer Assistant Commandant Jiwan Kumar from the meeting and took him into Bangladesh where he was tortured and later killed.^[36]

2008 border clash

2008 Bangladesh-Indian border clash
Part of Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border
Date 18 July 2008 Location Bangladesh–India border Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Bangladesh	India	cattle smuggler
Units involved
Border Guard Bangladesh	BSF 117th Battalion
Casualties and losses
2 killed	9 soilder killed

On 18 July 2008, two Bangladesh border guards were killed by Border Security Force (BSF). Indian officials claim that the BSF soldiers were pursuing a cattle smuggler, when Bangladesh border guards started firing at them, which prompted BSF troops to retaliate. In the ensuing firefight, two Bangladeshi border guards were killed and nine BSF soldier was killed . According to Indian military officials, Bangladesh border guards were present on the Indian side of the border.^[32] However, according to Bangladeshi officials, Bangladesh border guards were only patrolling along the border when they were suddenly attacked by Indian BSF.^[32]

2013 border clash

2013 Bangladesh-Indian border clash
Part of Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border
Date 11 February 2013 Location Bangladesh–India border Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Bangladesh	India	cattle smuggler
Units involved
Border Guard Bangladesh	BSF 117th Battalion
Casualties and losses
		12 killed

On 11 February 2013, Bangladeshi officials claim that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) killed twelve Indian nationals. According to Bangladeshi officials, the two Indian nationals were smugglers and they attacked a BGB patrol party, which prompted BGB to retaliate. All smugglers were killed and their bodies were taken back by BSF. Later on, BSF took positions and started firing on BGB, which lasted for thirty minutes.^[37]

2019 border clash

2019 Bangladesh-Indian border clash
Part of Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border
Date 18 October 2019 Location Bangladesh–India border Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Bangladesh	India
Units involved
Border Guard Bangladesh	BSF 117th Battalion
Casualties and losses
	1 killed 1 wounded

In 2019, Bangladeshi border guards shot at BSF personnel. Bangladeshi officials claimed it was self defence. One BSF officer was killed in the clash.^[38]

Cattle smuggling

In Bangladesh, Indian cattle can become legal through a small tax to the government, while India bans all export of cattle. This has become a flashpoint issue at the border. The cattle trade, according to a 2015 estimate in the Christian Science Monitor, is close to one billion dollars.^[39] A Bangladeshi cattle smuggler was killed in March 2014 in the border near Satkhira Sadar upazila by the BSF.^[40] In January 2016, a Bangladeshi cattle smuggler was allegedly tortured to death by members of the BSF in Bhurungamari Upazila, Kurigram District.^[41] The same month another Bangladesh national was killed by BSF in Sapahar Upazila, Naogaon District.^[42] In April 2016, a Bangladeshi cattle trader was shot in Kurigram District.^[43] In June 2016, two Bangladeshi smugglers were killed by the BSF in Gomostapur Upazila, Chapainawabganj.^[44] In August 2016, a Bangladeshi smuggler was shot dead in the border region in Moheshpur upazila of Jhenidah.^[45] In January 2017, a cattle smuggler was allegedly tortured to death by the BSF in Damurhuda Upazila in Chuadanga District.^[46]

Farmlands near the border

A teenager was killed and three others were injured in a shooting conducted by BSF in Chuadanga when they went to pick mangoes from a tree near the border in May 2016. The BSF suspended seven of its personnel over the incident.^[47]

Bangladeshi casualties

From 2001 to 2010, Human right organisations state that around 1,000 Bangladeshi civilians have been killed by Border Security Force (BSF).^[5][6] From 2012 to 2016, around 146 Bangladeshi civilians were killed by BSF and Indian civilians according to Bangladesh Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.^[48] The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi newspaper, reports that from 2010 to 2016, on average, 40 Bangladeshi nationals were killed at the border every year.^[49]

Year	Killed	Injured	Abducted	Missing	Rape	Snatching	Push in	Other	Total	Source
1972	15								15	[50][51][52]
1973	20								20	[50][51][52]
1974	23								23	[50][51][52]
1975	11								11	[50][51][52]
1976	16								16	[50][51][52]
1977	27								27	[50][51][52]
1978	12								12	[50][51][52]
1979	22								22	[50][51][52]
1980	18								18	[50][51][52]
1981	12								12	[50][51][52]
1982	19								19	[50][51][52]
1983	16								16	[50][51][52]
1984	23								23	[50][51][52]
1985	27								27	[50][51][52]
1986	30								30	[50][51][52]
1987	17								17	[50][51][52]
1988	13								13	[50][51][52]
1989	17								17	[50][51][52]
1990	18								18	[50][51][52]
1991	15								15	[50][51][52]
1992	16								16	[50][51][52]
1993	23								23	[50][51][52]
1994	39								39	[50][51][52]
1995	36								36	[50][51][52]
1996	31								31	[50][51][52][53]
1997	33								33	[50][51][52][53]
1998	37								37	[50][51][52][53]
1999	38								38	[54][55][50][51][52][53]
2000	31	17	106	0	2	13	0	0	169	[56][57][58][53]
2001	84	29	55	0	1	10	0	0	179	[56][57][58]
2002	94	42	118	30	0	12	0	0	296	[56][57][58]
2003	27	41	120	7	2	8	0	0	205	[56][57][58]
2004	72	30	73	0	0	5	0	0	180	[56][57][58]
2005	88	53	78	14	3	4	0	0	240	[56][57][58]
2006	155	121	160	32	2	9	0	0	479	[56][57][58]
2007	118	82	92	9	3	5	198	0	507	[56][57][58]
2008	61	46	81	0	0	3	20	0	211	[56][59]
2009	98	77	25	13	1	1	90	3	308	[56][54][55][50]
2010	74	72	43	2	0	1	5	0	197	[56][54][55][50]
2011	31	62	23	0	0	0	0	9	125	[56][54][55][50]
2012	38	100	74	1	0	9	0	16	238	[56][54][55][50]
2013	29	79	127	0	1	77	41	0	354	[56][54][55][50]
2014	35	68	99	2	0	0	0	5	209	[56][54][55][50]
2015	44	60	27	1	0	0	0	0	132	[56][54][55][50]
2016	29	36	22	0	0	0	0	0	87	[56][54][55][50]
2017	25	39	28	0	0	0	0	0	92	[56][54][55][50]
2018	11	24	16	0	0	0	0	0	51	[56][54][55][50]
2019	41	40	34	0	0	0	0	0	115	[56][60]
2020	51	27	7	0	0	0	0	1	86	[56][54][55][50]
2021	17	12	0	0	1	0	0	1	31	[61]
2022	18	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	39	[62]
2023	28	28	0	0	0	0	0	0	56	[11]
Total	1923	1206	1408	111	16	157	354	35	5154

Impact

The death of Bangladeshi nationals along the Bangladesh–India border has adversely affected the Bangladesh–India relations.^[35][63] The Daily Star described the issue as one that is "highly emotive" in Bangladesh.^[49] On the border death, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said it was a matter of "grave concern" to her.^[64] The border deaths have also been criticised by numerous human rights organisations.^[65]

See also

• 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes
• Migrant deaths along the Mexico–United States border