India’s Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary has dismissed allegations of push-ins along the Bangladesh-India border, claiming that “Bangladeshis who entered India illegally are simply returning.”
He made the remarks on Thursday during a joint press briefing at the conclusion of the four-day 56th BGB-BSF director general-level conference held at the BGB headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka.
The Bangladeshi side was led by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) DG Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui.
Responding to questions from journalists regarding reports of more than two thousand push-ins during the interim government’s tenure, despite no such incidents being recorded in the last 15 years, Singh stated there was no specific reason behind such claims.
“No push-ins are taking place. Those who had entered India illegally are now returning,” he said.
On border killings, the BSF chief defended his force, arguing that its personnel are compelled to use firearms only as a last resort. “BSF does not kill others deliberately. They fire only to save their own lives when tackling cross-border crimes,” Singh noted.
BGB chief Siddiqui, however, disagreed with the claim. He pointed out that many incidents occurred in broad daylight where unarmed civilians were shot dead.
“Most of the victims are ordinary villagers living near the border. Unarmed people can never pose a threat to armed BSF personnel,” he said. The BGB chief confirmed that Bangladesh has urged India to stop the use of lethal weapons along the border.
Siddiqui added that discussions also covered the return of individuals who cross the border accidentally without engaging in any criminal activity. He stressed that such cases must be handled lawfully and that the persons should be sent back through due process.
“Border residents live in constant fear. They want the two forces to work more closely to resolve issues peacefully,” the BGB chief said.
According to Siddiqui, BSF has proposed several confidence-building measures, to which BGB has responded positively.
The joint declaration reaffirmed both sides’ “zero tolerance” against armed groups along the border, agreed not to undertake any development work within 150 yards of the zero line without prior approval, and decided to complete ongoing border-area projects swiftly.
The conference also prioritised stopping border killings and push-ins, preventing airspace violations, and strengthening measures against narcotics and arms smuggling, as well as human trafficking. Preservation of riverbanks approved by the Joint Rivers Commission was also given importance.
Siddiqui said BSF assured Bangladesh of full cooperation in these matters.