As India and Bangladesh strengthen their ties and commit to boost connectivity, the issue of border deaths continues to remain a thorny issue between the two, which requires to be resolved.
“There is a need for comprehensive effort to tackle the problem at its root,” Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami said at a webinar organized by India Writes Network.
Doraiswami noted that deprivation of economic activities in certain areas along the India-Bangladesh border has led to an increase in illicit trading activities leading to violence on both sides.
India has assured Bangladesh that there will not be any unlawful killings along the border. But existence of criminal groups besides people engaged in illegal trading activities have aggravated the problem.
Informal trade – not necessarily illegal or illicit trade—is a common practice along the India Bangladesh border. The exchange of goods is driven by local needs of the people living along the border. However, illicit trade which revolves around drugs, arms and cattle also take place between the two countries.
Retd Air Commodore Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury told India Narrative that both countries need to do an honest assessment of this issue.
“We need to understand that such activities including smuggling of goods cannot take place without the knowledge of the local authorities – both in India and Bangladesh. This leads to loss of revenue for both governments while miscreant elements make the most of the situation.
Unfortunately, the poorest of the poor suffer the most as the coterie of illegal operators benefit the most,” Choudhury said, adding that both countries along with the Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh need to sit together to chalk out a feasible plan.
Choudhury also said that illicit cattle trade has led to problems for the animal husbandry industry in Bangladesh.
“Due to the smuggling of cattle from India, the prices of the local butchers have artificially fallen and those engaged in the formal business have been the worst sufferers,” Choudhury said.
Doraiswami and Choudhury both pointed out that criminal gangs are also in operation along the border. Violence and killings are often due to the illegal activities of these groups operating in that region.
A CUTS International report noted while informal trade between India and Bangladesh has been prevalent throughout various locations along the border, it has been relatively more pronounced in some locations.
The setting up of ‘border haats’ – mini marketplaces aimed at catering to the local people has brought in a large chunk of the trade under the formal framework.
However, illegal trade and economic activities continue to thrive along the border, analysts said. The report also added that informal trade has been driven by demand-supply gap.
Analysts said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina did not touch upon the thorny issues in any detail, it is important to resolve these for a long-standing partnership.
Bangladesh is strategically located and will play a crucial role in the fast-emerging Indo Pacific geopolitics as well as India’s Act East policy. Doraiswami has repeatedly said that a peaceful and developed Bangladesh is in India’s interest.
