The riverine border, lacking physical fencing, with poor road infrastructure, not only hampers patrolling efforts but also ups the challenge for the force to stop attempts to smuggle goods, besides containing the menace of human trafficking, a senior BSF official said.
“The India-Bangladesh border in South Bengal, particularly along the Sonai River, presents significant challenges for the BSF. Smuggling, primarily of gold and drugs such as Phensedyl, has surged dramatically. The unfenced riverine border and hostile local populations hinder effective border control,” an official said.
“Out of the 913 kilometres of the South Bengal Frontier, only about 550 kilometers are land borders,” said DIG South Bengal Frontier, Nilotpal Kumar Pandey.
“There are numerous challenging areas, including 350 kilometers of riverine borders. Furthermore, only 50 percent of the land border is fenced. Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from all stakeholders; no single entity can be held solely responsible for transborder crimes,” he added.
“Despite the deployment of EVSP (likely referring to an electronic surveillance system), it often proves insufficient. By the time we reach the location alerted by technology, the smugglers have already blended with the local population. Low visibility conditions, particularly during winter, are exploited by smugglers. They also capitalize on the brief window during duty changes when new personnel are adjusting,” said another BSF official.
There has been a notable surge in the apprehension of Indian and Bangladeshi nationals attempting to cross the border illegally between August 5, 2023, and December 31, 2023, and again in 2024. After August 5 to December 31 in 2023, 394 Indian nationals and 833 Bangladeshis were apprehended. In 2024, 245 Indians and 1,102 Bangladeshis were apprehended.
“Many individuals who could have traveled legally may be resorting to illegal means due to these Visa restrictions,” DIG Pandey said.
Interestingly, the BSF in this area faces significant challenges with a strength of 2,400 personnel for a 60 kilometer sector which is 3 times higher than 800 personnel of BGB.
Additionally, local hostility towards the BSF complicates border security efforts. The surrounding villages of Bithari and Terali, with a population of 30,000, are situated along this sensitive stretch, making it even more challenging for the BSF to prevent illegal activities.
One of the villagers, Sunita Biswas, who resides on the banks of the Sonai River said, “There is not much source of income here other than agriculture. Apart from safety concerns, BSF presence disturbs our freedom.”
Another villager on condition of anonymity said, “BSF deployment is a hindrance to our freedom.” A senior BSF official while speaking with The Indian Express, said, “Transborder crime, particularly gold and Phensedyl smuggling, is a major concern. Daily seizures, while indicative of successful interceptions, highlight the rampant attempts. Phensydril’s popularity as an alcohol substitute in Bangladesh fuels its smuggling from India. The Sonai River’s proximity has intertwined with the livelihood of local residents, many of whom engage in smuggling activities. The BSF faces immense challenges in patrolling the vast and unfenced riverbank, especially considering the densely populated Tarali border area with around 30,000 inhabitants.”
A senior BSF official said that while over 160 kg of gold was seized in the South Bengal Frontier region in 2023, more than 176 kg of the precious metal was seized last year.
Notably, in most cases, arrests have been made along with seizure of the consignments, he continued. “In 2023 alone, 493 Indian smugglers and 186 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested. In addition, 45 Indians and eight Bangladeshis acting as facilitators in illegal infiltration were apprehended that year,” the official said.
In 2024, the BSF official said, 339 Indians and 116 Bangladeshis were arrested for smuggling, while 43 Indian and three Bangladeshi touts were apprehended by the force in the South Bengal Frontier region for facilitating illegal immigration.
The smuggling methods are diverse, ranging from concealment in cycles to swallowing and hiding within shoes, an official said.
The BSF also maintained that cattle smuggling in the South Bengal Frontier has dipped in the past few years from 1,000 per day to nearly 1,000 per year in 2023-2024.