The killing of Bangladeshis along the Bangladesh-India border has become a serious humanitarian crisis and a matter of national concern. For years, many innocent Bangladeshi citizens have lost their lives due to shootings by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). Farmers, workers, and even teenagers have fallen victim to these incidents, creating deep anger, sorrow and insecurity among the people of Bangladesh.
Although Bangladesh has always sought to maintain peaceful and friendly relations with its neighbour, these border killings continue to cast a dark shadow over that relationship. The most tragic aspect is that many of the victims are unarmed civilians. Killing people merely on suspicion or allegations of illegal border crossing can never be considered humane or justified. The duty of a civilised border force should be to enforce the law and control situations responsibly, not to take human lives.
This situation raises a painful question in the minds of Bangladeshis: if the two nations share a relationship of friendship, why must so much Bangladeshi blood continue to be shed at the border? Why should the life of a Bangladeshi citizen be taken so easily? These incidents are increasing fear and uncertainty among people living in border areas.
To stop these killings, India must adopt a more humane and responsible approach. Dialogue, not bullets, should be the path towards resolving border-related problems. The use of non-lethal methods, stronger joint monitoring and improvements in the living standards of border communities could significantly reduce this crisis.
Ibrahim Ibney Aziz
Department of Sociology
University of Dhaka
Border killings: question of humanity
FE Team | Published: May 15, 2026 17:54:27
Border killings: question of humanity
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