By Ashis Biswas
India’s Border Security Force, determined to project its image as a responsible force, has for the first time awarded financial compensation to a Bangladeshi family over a fatality.
This unique gesture has been duly appreciated across the border, according to Dhaka-based media reports. The move follows the BSF’s recent policy of giving a controlled response to incidents of border violation, following repeated requests from Bangladesh government and HR circles. Put into practice, it means that Indian border guards open fire as a last resort, using non-lethal weapons as a first response, as incidents occur. The advantage of this relatively “soft” approach is that the number of fatalities, a sensitive issue in Bangladesh especially when elections are near, has been much reduced.
On November 9, 2010, one Shah Alam Mal, a Bangladeshi, was killed when the BSF opened fire, along the Indo-Bangladesh border at Nadia. Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) authorities complained that the man was cutting grass in the field. His body was taken away by BSF men and returned to BGB personnel three days later. BSF authorities probed BGB allegations and decided to award a compensation of Rs 5,00,000 to the victim’s next of kin. BGB authorities handed over a cheque issued by the BSF to Mal’s widow at a function at Rajshahi only days ago. The lady, mourning her husband, said that life had turned difficult and the money would certainly help. Earlier, the issue of border “killings” during violent incidents had been a sore issue between India and Bangladesh. Relations deteriorated sharply over an incident in mid-2001, as BSF and the BDR (in those days) became involved in a bitter crossfire during which each side was alleged to have crossed border illegally and attacked villages, creating panic, in the Dhubri sector in Assam. Altogether 16 BSF men were killed and their bodies allegedly mutilated. To date, this remains the most major outbreak of violence involving both forces at the Indo-Bangla border.
Even as both sides probed the outbreak, there was a hardening of attitude on the Indian side and the number of Bangladeshi fatalities in border incidents went up remarkably. Bangladesh protested repeatedly against this, as the issue became a major irritant in bilateral relations.
According to Bangladesh Government and HR circles, between 2000 and 2010, over 900 Bangladeshis had been killed in firing by BSF men along the international border. The BSF’s figures of course differed widely, confirming only about a third of the casualties claimed by Bangladesh. The BSF maintained that mostly criminals like smugglers, illegal infiltrators, armed dacoits, drug peddlers, armed terrorists and cattle thieves were involved in incidents of border violation and violence. Most of the firing had been carried out in self-defence. Bangladesh authorities did not quite agree. The improvement in the situation has occurred fairly recently, following several rounds of talks between BSF and BGB authorities held in both countries. The number of casualties has gone down remarkably.
However, BSF personnel not wholly convinced that there is any improvement in the situation. Now that its policy of “restraint” has become public knowledge on both sides of the border, Bangladesh criminals are taking advantage by stepping up their provocative attacks against the BSF. As a result, more BSF men are getting hurt than before. Only last month, some 19-20 armed Bangladeshis attacked and tried to overpower a group of BSF men at the Krishnagar border area, using grenades and firearms. Several BSF men were hurt as they beat off the attackers who escaped in the cover of the night. A complaint was lodged with BGB authorities who were told to ensure that areas close to the border should be kept relatively free from movement especially at night. Analysts believe India would like to use this as an opportunity to improve and strengthen bilateral ties with Bangladesh. A recent survey reveals that almost 50 per cent of people interviewed in India believe Bangladesh to be the best among India’s neighbours in the region, markedly ahead of Pakistan, Nepal or Sri Lanka. This would not have happened unless the Awami league was ruling there. There have been recent agreements over transit rights, infrastructure development and trade between the two countries, which augur well for peace and stability in the region. (IPA Service)