Despite multiple meetings between Bangladesh and India pledging to end border killings and the use of lethal weapons, incidents of shootings by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) continue. In Lalmonirhat district, two Bangladeshi nationals were shot dead within five weeks, the latest on May 14 in Hatibandha upazila. Earlier, on April 8, another man was killed in Patgram. These incidents have sparked fear and anger among residents of border areas.

Local communities and observers say the ongoing violence threatens trust and stability in Bangladesh-India relations. They argue that repeated Indian assurances to stop border killings have not been implemented, and that the absence of accountability for BSF actions has allowed such incidents to persist. Reports indicate that BSF sometimes crosses into Bangladeshi territory, detains civilians, and uses force under its controversial “shoot on sight” policy.

Officials from Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB) maintain that they are acting responsibly to preserve peace and mutual confidence along the frontier.