• The border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh began their biannual talks in New Delhi on June 11 with a focus on combating cross-frontier crimes and creating better synergy between them.

• The 53rd Director General-level Border Coordination Conference between Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is  taking place at a BSF camp in New Delhi and will end on June 14.

• The last such meeting was held in July 2022 when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka.

• The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on India's eastern flank. It is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours. 

• Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between the border guarding forces.

• Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

• These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka.

• There is active cooperation between various agencies of both countries working jointly to combat illicit drug trafficking, fake currency, human trafficking, and cooperate on police matters, anti-corruption activities, among others. 

• Mechanisms for the peaceful and cooperative management of the 4,096 kms-long international border are also actively focused on border fencing, joint inspection of boundary pillars, joint boundary demarcation, including riverine boundaries, among others. 

India-Bangladesh connectivity

• India was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971.

• The year 2021 saw India and Bangladesh jointly commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 War fought shoulder-to-shoulder by the armed forces of both countries.

• West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are the Indian states that share their border with Bangladesh.

• The India-Bangladesh Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1972 laid the foundations of good relations between the two Countries.

• A number of agreements related to security cooperation have been signed between both the countries. This includes a Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) signed in 2011 to synergise the efforts of both Border Guarding Forces for more effective control over cross border illegal activities and crimes as well as for the maintenance of peace and tranquility along the India-Bangladesh border.

• The India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) came into force following the exchange of instruments of ratification during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015. On  July 31, 2015 the enclaves of India and Bangladesh in each other’s countries were exchanged and strip maps were signed.

• The settlement of the maritime boundary arbitration between India and Bangladesh, as per UNCLOS award on July 7, 2014, paved the way for the economic development of this part of the Bay of Bengal, and will be beneficial to both countries.

• The Protocol on Inland Water Trade and Transit (PIWTT) has been operational since 1972. It permits movement of goods over barges/vessels through the river systems of Bangladesh on eight specific routes.

• After Partition in 1947, seven rail links were operational between India and the then East Pakistan up to 1965. 

• Train services from India to Bangladesh were suspended since the 1965 India-Pakistan War.

• It was resumed in 2008 with the Maitree Express between Kolkata and Dhaka (via Gede–Darsana). 

• In 2017, the Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express (via Petrapole–Benapole) was flagged off. 

• In March 2021, Mitali Express passenger train service was inaugurated on Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka route through Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.

Currently, there are five operational rail links between India and Bangladesh. They are:

i) Petrapole (India) – Benapole (Bangladesh)

ii) Gede (India) – Darshana (Bangladesh)

iii) Singhabad (India) – Rohanpur (Bangladesh)

iv) Radhikapur (India) – Birol (Bangladesh)

v) Haldibari (India) – Chilahati (Bangladesh).

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