Editorial
Non-lethal approach at the border
Latest BSF-BGB understanding must work
Every time chiefs of India and Bangladesh border guards sit for talks in an ambience of professed good neighbourliness, somewhat mismatched by untoward border incidents, a fresh resolve to come to grips with border killings has been in evidence. Efforts for an improved border management are there, yet one wonders why the issue of border killings still keeps figuring between the two governments. Given the level of friendly political will manifest at the highest levels between the two countries and repeated assurances of non-lethal approach at the border by India this issue should have been squarely left behind by now.
Set against this backdrop, the just-concluded Indo-Bangladesh border talks in New Delhi has adopted some concrete steps. It is a three-pronged strategy including deployment of additional security forces by both sides at several 'vulnerable patches'; sensitisation of people against illegal cross border movement and sharing information real-time by BSF and BGB on movement of smugglers and other criminals during 'hours of darkness'.
Miscommunication or absence of communication can create distrust and foster knee-jerk reaction and unilateral approach at the ground level. Thus, the decision to put in place a communication mechanism at operational level to promptly inform the counterpart of any abnormal incidents is a step in the right direction.
At all costs, use of lethal force against unarmed people should be scrupulously avoided. Let's not forget, ironically, Indo-Bangla border is labelled as recording the highest number of one-sided killings. This is unacceptable, viewed in the context of multi-layered cooperation built into and envisaged between the India and Bangladesh in times to come.
It is an anachronism despite assurances from the highest political level in India that border killings would stop, the security personnel at the field level have lacked sensibilities as to how killings of our citizens at the border are affecting the bilateral relations adversely. It, therefore, devolves on the top brass in India to ensure that the right message and spirit permeate lower down the order much as Bangladesh for its part takes necessary precautionary measures.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments