All promises, and no action by BSF

We would be reassured by the BSF's chief promise of zero killings on the borders during the five-day general-level talks between India's Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh, which ended yesterday, if we had not heard such pledges before. Unfortunately, the same promise has been made on multiple occasions over the years; yet, BSF personnel continue to routinely violate bilateral agreements not to resort to lethal weapons in dealing with cases of border crossing with total impunity. At least 48 Bangladeshi citizens have been killed—mostly poor, unarmed villagers, cattle-rearers and fisherfolk—this year alone, according to rights body Ain O Salish Kendra. Many were tortured to death—one victim died after BSF men allegedly forced petrol into his mouth and rectum, while all fingernails of another victim were pulled out with pliers after he was detained for illegal entry into Indian territories. In fact, on the first day of the conference, a cattle trader of Gubrakura village in Haluaghat, Mymensingh was shot in the abdomen and died due to excessive bleeding.

For how long will our neighbouring country, with whom we are proud to maintain friendly relations, continue to assuage us with empty promises? If and when promises are broken by their personnel, what steps are taken to ensure that impunity for such gross human rights violations end? How many BSF personnel have been investigated over the years and how many have been found guilty? Actions speak louder than words, and the failure of the BSF to hold their personnel to account tell us more about their commitments to "zero" killings than the statements issued at high-level talks.

It is high time we move past promises and talk about establishing accountability mechanisms on both sides of the border. Human lives and dignity must mean more to states which are committed to basic principles of human rights and international laws. These high-level talks between the two sides must abide by these principles and come to a solution that will put a complete stop to these killings and incidents of torture that will always come in the way of further strengthening the ties the two countries have.