BSF & BGB agreed on vulnerability mapping to implement coordinated border management plan

The Border Security Force (BSF) and Board Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on 24 August 2014 agreed to conduct vulnerability mapping in every six months. It will be conducted to implement a coordinated border management plan to curb drug and human trafficking and other trans-border crimes.

The agreement was reached in New Delhi during the 39th Border Co-ordination Conference between the two forces. For the conference, the Indian delegation was led by BSF chief DK Pathak, whereas, the 20-member delegation of Bangladesh was led by BGB Director-General Aziz Ahmed.

The delegation of the two sides comprised of senior officials from Foreign Affairs and Home Ministries, along with departments of Narcotics Control and Land Record and Survey and the Joint Rivers Commission.

Other points of discussion in the conference included
• Need of joint efforts to curb violence along border and bring down the death toll to zero level
• Additional vigilance in areas vulnerable to cattle smuggling
• Increasing coordinated patrols in vulnerable areas especially in night
• Deployment of quick reaction at different levels
• Educating border population about sanctity of the international border
• Action plan to curb smuggling of narcotics and drugs, like Phensedyl, fake currency notes and gold
• Real-time intelligence sharing against trans-border crimes

Apart from this, the topic of discussions included expeditious and fair trial of Felani Khatun case, in which a 15-year-old Bangladeshi girl was found shot dead in January 2011. The case has accused a BSF constable.