Violation of human rights in the Indo-Bangla frontier areas is not a new trend which in many times has affected the bilateral relations between these two neighbors. Violation of every norm which were to be followed in the border areas are challenged by the BSF.

Human rights of the people of the eastern front have been trampled down by the security forces of Indian border and for long with impunity. Many international human rights watch bodies have criticized the security forces of the Indian side for their elongated malpractice throughout the whole world’s fifth longest border.

It is unfortunate for us as we (Bangladesh and India) share the world’s bloodiest border as opined by international observer and human rights watch group around the world. However, we (Bangladesh) are smug enough to have a warm bilateral relation between these two tested friends.

Very recently, a Bangladeshi was killed by the BSF in the Dinajpur district. Many such incidents can be cited where killing followed by torture and inhuman treatment to the detainees. The border force of Bangladesh has always protested those incidents and the counterpart as usual has expressed their regret for those incidents as well. And what is most unfortunate for us is the continuance of such incidents.

An article published on April 18 last years depicted the sorrowful story of this border. It also said that the death toll between these two democracies dwarfed the number killed attempting to cross the inner-German border during the cold war. According to Human Rights Watch, India’s border force has killed almost 1,000 Bangladeshis over the past ten years. There exists always a tension through the four thousand kilometres border areas.   

More than one year has elapsed since we have lost Felani. But killing and torture is still a reality. Almost all the international human rights watch bodies and even the people of India are for the neutral investigation of those incidents and are advocating to bring those perpetrators to justice. Both the governments should undertake a speedy, fair, and transparent criminal investigation into fresh allegations of killings, torture, and other abuses by the Border Security Force (BSF) at the border with Bangladesh.