A Bangladesh national was reportedly injured in firing by India’s Border Security Force along Durgapur border, West Bengal, in Lalmonirhat district of  Bangladesh, reported UNB. “The BSF troops from Padna Camp opened fire on a group of Bangladeshi people numbering 4/5 when they reached near border pillar no 925, leaving Milon injured,” Bangladesh Border Guards (BBG), was quoted as saying by UNB. 

The injured was later taken to a nearby hospital in Bangladesh. BBG said they had registered their protest with India’s Border Security Force regarding the incident. 

The issue of border killings is one of the key irritants in the Bangladesh-India bilateral ties. Bangladesh usually raises the issue in each bilateral meeting, including in the coordination meeting the forces of two sides conduct regularly. 

Over the years, the number of border killing incidents has come down, however, Bangladesh claims even a single killing in this way is too much and should be avoided. In 2020, around 25 Bangladeshis have reportedly been killed by the BSF. 

However, for Indians, the border areas are infested with criminal and smuggling networks, and it is the sole reason responsible for such killings. 

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his recent visit to Dhaka, had said, “I think what we agree on is every death is regrettable. But we also ask ourselves why there is a problem? And we know the problem.”

During the visit early this year, he told his Bangladeshi counterpart that the two countries have a shared objective of stopping crimes in border areas. However, he added that these killings happen fairly deep inside Indian territory.