Odhikar

Violations in the border area

Bangladesh and India share a border of 2,429 miles. The Bangladeshi geographical Divisions of Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet and Chittagong, along with Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are situated along the border. India has constructed the Indo-Bangladeshi barrier, a 3,406-kilometre (2,116 miles) fence of barbed wire and concrete just under 3 metres high, to prevent trespass and the smuggling of weapons and narcotics. Human rights violations by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) have been going on for a long time along these borders between Bangladesh and India. Instances of BSF shooting, killing, torturing and abducting unarmed Bangladeshi civilians in the border areas violate international norms and treaties. Members of the BSF also illegally enter Bangladesh territory and attack people residing along the border, shoot and kidnap Bangladeshis. India-Bangladesh border is probably the most vulnerable and bloodiest border in the world.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding and related treaties signed between India and Bangladesh, if citizens of the two countries illegally cross the border, it would be considered trespass and as per law those persons should be handed over to the civilian authority.  However, we have repeatedly noticed that India has been violating treaties, shooting at anyone seen near the border or anyone trying to cross the border, which is a clear violation of international law and human rights.

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