DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladesh and India have agreed to deepen ​ cooperation along their shared border with improved intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols, according ‌to a joint statement released on Friday, amid strained relations over alleged undocumented migration.
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Dhaka has accused Indian authorities of attempting to force migrants across the border without due process, complicating efforts to stabilise ties following the 2024 ousting of Sheikh ​Hasina and India’s broader effort to identify and deport undocumented migrants.
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Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s ​Border Security Force (BSF) described the discussions as “cordial, positive and forward-lookingâ€, according to the statement â released at the end of a four-day meeting of top border officials in New Delhi.
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​The regular talks also covered “illegal, inadvertent and forcible crossing at border areas,†an increasingly contentious issue in ​ recent months.
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Bangladesh and India share a more than 4,000‑km (2,500-mile) border, one of the world’s longest. India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which governs key border states including Tripura, West Bengal and Assam, has said tackling alleged undocumented migration is ​a priority and has been trying to push Bengali-speaking Muslims branded “illegal infiltrators” into Bangladesh since last year.
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Bangladesh ​has said it has sent more than a dozen letters to New Delhi seeking an end to the practice.
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The ‌BGB â has reported foiling several alleged attempts in recent weeks and has stepped up deployments, intelligence operations and drone surveillance in border areas.
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Earlier this week, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said that any push-ins without due process were “absolutely unacceptable,†warning they could undermine efforts to improve bilateral ​ties.
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Bangladesh said it had ​intensified patrols and launched â awareness campaigns along parts of the frontier to tackle the alleged forced crossings, while India said in May it had asked Dhaka to verify the nationality ​of more than 2,860 suspected Bangladeshi nationals living in India without formal documentation.
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The ​joint statement â said the two sides also discussed human trafficking, border deaths, smuggling, infrastructure and implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan.
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“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, tranquility and stability along the India-Bangladesh border,†the statement â said, adding ​they would strengthen coordinated patrols, enhance vigilance, improve real-time ​information sharing and step up joint action against trans-border criminal networks.
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The top border officials will next meet in Dhaka in November, the ​statement said.