Comprehensive Border Management Plan: India, Bangladesh border fencing

Content:

Border Problems and Internal Security Issues

•  India shares its longest border with Bangladesh. They share 4096.7 km. of the border.
• But this border is not attentively managed.
• The India-Bangladesh border has been described as the ‘problem area of tomorrow’. 
• The problems include illegal migration, smuggling, cattle trafficking, fake currency and trans-border movement of insurgents, which are serious threats to the security of the country. 

Various issues associated with India-Bangladesh border:

• Illegal Migration: Illegal movement of people from Bangladesh into India, especially in Assam, West Bengal and Tripura is a perennial problem. There are around two crore illegal migrants staying in India.
• Cross-border Insurgency: The porous nature of the border has also made it easy for Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) to cross over into Bangladesh, where they have set up safe houses and training camps.
• Smuggling and illegal trafficking: Activities including smuggling of arms, human and narcotics trafficking, counterfeiting Indian currency etc. are also quite rampant. The border also faces the unique problem of smuggling of cattle, readymade garments and food grains.
• Cross border Firing: The border has also witnessed occasional skirmishes between the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), most notably in 2001.
• Shoot-on-sight Policy: Moreover, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh cross the border to India. Because of a large number of illegal immigrants crossing from Bangladesh into India, a controversial shoot-on-sight policy has been enforced by the Indian border patrols. This policy was initiated with reports of violence between the illegal migrants and Indian soldiers.

Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) 

• In 2016 India and Bangladesh agreed to an effective implementation of a Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) to prevent cross-border criminal activities and other issues.
• The Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) agreed to take measures like additional vigilance in areas vulnerable to trans-border crimes like smuggling of drugs, cattle, gold and fake currency as well as human trafficking.
• Both the border guarding forces also agreed to increase coordinated patrols especially during night hours in vulnerable areas, deployment of Quick Reactions teams and educating border populations on the sanctity of the International Border.
• Various activities being conducted under Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) include Simultaneous Coordinated Patrols (SCP), sharing of intelligence, identification of vulnerable areas and increased frequency of meetings at all levels
• In 2021,  India and Bangladesh discussed “early completion” of the pending fencing work along the international border
• Both sides agreed to further enhance the level of cooperation to prevent the smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) and contraband

Its Importance:

• It builds a pragmatic and people-sensitive approach to improve border management.
• It strengthens the Confidence Building Measures and coordination between India- Bangladesh security forces
• Early completion of fencing will aid in effective patrolling and monitoring of border areas. 
• Certain measures under the plan reduce incidences of cross-border firing along the border.

Hurdles:

• The fencing project is limited by the difficult terrain and other physical barriers like Brahmaputra river 
• The delays in fencing due to clashes. Bangladesh Border security troops (BDR) clashed with the Indian Border Security Force when the fence was built beyond the no man’s land.