Recently, the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) had held talks in Dhaka. Official sources said since high-level interactions between the sides have been more frequent in recent times it has helped to build the trust between the two forces.

“While senior officials of both the sides have developed mutual trust, it must percolate to lower-rank staff. We are striving to achieve it,” said Vikash Chandra, Additional Deputy Inspector General of SBF.

On July 18, two BDR personnel were killed in an exchange of fire in the Nimtita area of Murshidabad district.

In retaliation, the BDR shot dead a BSF jawan. Sensing an urgent need to control the situation, the BSF top brass sent immediate instructions to their commanders to hold meetings and sort out things, instead of resorting to retaliation.

Maximum tension between the two forces is recorded along the stretches of Kolkata, Krishnanagar and Behrampore sector. Of the 4,095 km border shared by the two countries, 2,216 km is in West Bengal, of which, the SBF comprises 1150 km.

The number of firing incidents between the two border forces has come down to mere 9 this year from 74 a year ago. Last year, the BSF had opened fire first in 39 cases, while in 27 cases the BDR had initiated the firing. This year, the BSF opened fire in 5 cases while in 3 cases the firing began from the other side. Senior BSF officials said the figures confirm the success of the senior-level talks between the two sides.

In 2007, the forces exchanged 66 protest notes among each other. In 2008, the BSF has lodged only 4 protest notes while the BDR registered 26 protest notes against the BSF firing.