Bangladesh–India border
International border between India and Bangladesh From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bangladesh–India border, known locally as the Radcliffe line, is an international border running between the republics of Bangladesh and India. Six Bangladeshi divisions and five Indian states lie along the border.
| India-Bangladesh–border | |
|---|---|
The border has a narrow strip known as the Siliguri Corridor | |
| Characteristics | |
| Entities | Bangladesh India |
| Length | 4,096 km (2,545 mi) |
| History | |
| Established | 17 August 1947 Creation of the Radcliffe Line by Sir Cyril Radcliffe due to the Partition of British India |
| Current shape | 7 May 2015 Exchange of enclaves, simplification of land boundaries |
Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-kilometre-long (2,545 mi) international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world,[note 1] including 262 km (163 mi) in Assam, 856 km (532 mi) in Tripura, 318 km (198 mi) in Mizoram, 443 km (275 mi) in Meghalaya and 2,217 km (1,378 mi) in West Bengal.[1] The Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Chittagong are situated along the border. A number of pillars mark the border between the two states. Small demarcated portions of the border are fenced on both sides.
History
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Post number 1273 of Bangladesh–India border
Radcliffe Line
The Radcliffe Line was published on 17 August 1947 as a boundary demarcation line between the dominions of India and Pakistan upon the partition of India. It was named after its architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who, as chairman of the Border Commissions, was charged with equitably dividing 450,000 square kilometres (175,000 sq mi) of territory with 88 million people based on religious lines.[2] This involved the partition of the Bengal region, which resulted in transferring East Bengal to Pakistan,[3] which was later liberated in 1971, thereby Bangladesh continuing to share the same line as the border with the Indian Republic.
Resolution of Muhuri River border issue
The longstanding border issues along the Muhuri River between India's Belonia region in Tripura and Bangladesh's Comilla District have seen significant diplomatic resolution in recent years. The maritime boundary dispute concerning the former Muhurichar Island (known as South Talpatti in Bangladesh and New Moore in India) was amicably settled through international arbitration, with both nations accepting the 2014 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling under UNCLOS after the island's natural submersion due to changing coastal geography.[4][5] On land, constructive bilateral cooperation led to a 2011 joint survey that peacefully established management areas along the 6.5 km river stretch, with India administering 44.87 acres and Bangladesh 22.44 acres of the previously contested territory.[6] While historical tensions occasionally surfaced between 1979-1999, the implementation of coordinated border management protocols since the landmark 2015 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement has successfully maintained stability in the region.[7] This peaceful resolution stands as a testament to both nations' commitment to diplomatic problem-solving and regional cooperation.[8]
Resolution of conclave border issues
The 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes represented a distinct escalation of tensions separate from the Muhuri River/Belonia disputes, occurring approximately 300 km northwest in the Pyrdiwah/Boroibari sector along the Meghalaya-Sylhet border. While unrelated geographically to the Muhuri River conflicts, these clashes shared similar underlying causes including unresolved border demarcation issues and competing territorial claims over undelimited areas. The 2001 confrontation, which resulted in 16 Indian and 3 Bangladeshi security personnel fatalities, prompted both nations to accelerate diplomatic efforts that eventually contributed to the broader resolution of border disputes through the 2015 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement.[9][10] See below "Conclave and exclave" section for more details.
Borders
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Land border
Border length by Indian states
| State/Union Territory | Border Length (km) | Percentage of Total Border | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | 2,217 | 54.1% | Longest contiguous segment |
| Tripura | 856 | 20.9% | Shares border with multiple Bangladeshi divisions |
| Meghalaya | 443 | 10.8% | Includes Dawki-Tamabil crossing |
| Mizoram | 318 | 7.8% | Southernmost border segment |
| Assam | 262 | 6.4% | Includes Karimganj's riverine border |
| Total | 4,096 | 100% | As per 2022 survey[11] |
Enclaves and exclaves
Until 2015, nearly 200 India-Bangladesh border enclaves ("chitmahals") and counter-enclaves (exclaves) existed, a historical anomaly stemming from centuries-old treaty between rulers of Cooch Behar and Mughals, later complicated by the partition of India that placed Cooch Behar in India and Rangpur (later Bangladesh) in -East Pakistan.
In 1974, India and Bangladesh signed a Land Boundary Agreement for enclave exchange and border simplification, with Bangladesh approving it that year, but India only ratifying a revised version in 2015 after a renewed agreement in 2011 (Indian Constitution's 100th Amendment).[12][13] The 2015 Land Boundary Agreement involved Bangladesh receiving 111 Indian enclaves (17,160.63 acres) and India receiving 51 Bangladeshi enclaves (7,110.02 acres), with residents allowed to choose their nationality and remain or relocate.[14][15] The adverse possession of Boraibari went to Bangladesh.[16] The 2015 agreement also resolved previously undemarcated borders concerning Daikhata-Dumabari, Muhurichar (an island in the Muhuri River),[13] and Pyrdiwah.[17][18][19]
Land barrier
The Government of India has progressively constructed fencing along the 4,096.70 kilometres (2,545.57 mi) India-Bangladesh border, with 3,180 kilometres (1,980 mi) completed by 2024 and the remaining 916 kilometres (569 mi) secured through physical and non-physical barriers due to challenging terrain including dense forests, mountains, and riverine areas.[20] The fencing project, which began in the 1990s, has been implemented in phases with steady progress over the years.[21] Similar security fencing exists along India's borders with Pakistan and Myanmar as part of the nation's comprehensive border security strategy.[20]
Land border protection force
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Border Security Force (BSF) is India's border guarding organisation on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.[22][23] Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), formerly known as the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), is a paramilitary force responsible for the security of Bangladesh's 4,427 kilometres (2,751 mi) long border with India and Myanmar.[24][25][26][27]
Maritime boundary and EEZ
The maritime boundary dispute between India and Bangladesh was resolved through arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) following eight unsuccessful bilateral negotiation rounds between 1974 and 2009. The dispute centered on competing claims over exclusive economic zones and included the now-submerged South Talpatti Island (known as "New Moore" in India), which emerged after the 1970 Bhola cyclone before disappearing around 2010 due to rising sea levels.[28] On 7 July 2014, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in Bangladesh's favor, a decision both nations accepted amicably, marking a peaceful resolution to this longstanding dispute and serving as a notable example of successful international arbitration under UNCLOS.[5]
Commerce and connectivity
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Border crossings
| State (India) | Crossing Point (India) | Connecting Point (Bangladesh) | Type | Notes | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | Petrapole | Benapole | ICP | Busiest land port, handles 50% bilateral trade | [29] |
| Tripura | Agartala | Akhaura | ICP | Gateway to Northeast India | [29] |
| Meghalaya | Dawki | Tamabil | ICP | Connects Shillong-Sylhet | [29] |
| Assam | Sutarkandi | Sheola | ICP | On NH37 | [29] |
| Meghalaya | Mahendraganj | Bakshiganj | LCS | On NH217 | [29] |
| Tripura | Sabroom | Ramgarh | ICP | Features Maitri Setu bridge | [30] |
| Mizoram | Kawarpuchiah | NA | ICP | Opened 2017 | [30] |
Cross-border transport
India and Bangladesh have gradually restored transport connections that were severed after the 1947 partition, with significant developments occurring after the 1971 war. Road connectivity resumed with the launch of the Kolkata-Dhaka bus service in 1999,[31] followed by additional routes including Dhaka-Agartala (2001) and Kolkata-Agartala via Petrapole (2015). Rail services were reintroduced with the Maitree Express in 2008,[32] later supplemented by the Bandhan Express (2017) and Mitali Express (2021), though many historical rail links remain inactive.
Border ceremonies
Benapole–Petrapole border ceremony at the India-Bangladesh border crossing site is a beating retreat flag ceremony jointly held by the military of both nations every day at 6 pm, which is open to the public as tourist attractions.[33][34] No special permit or ticket is needed. India has similar border ceremonies with other nations.
Border markets
India-Bangladesh border has numerous border haats or markets held one day each week.[35][36][37][38][39] It is not only a market for locals and tourists for buying daily commodities but also a reunion spot for families living on both sides of the international border.[40][41]
Issues
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Cross-border criminal activity
Documented incidents of transnational crime along the India-Bangladesh border include patterns where Bangladeshis illegally cross the border, commit crimes, and return to Bangladesh. A 2023 study by the Bureau of Police Research and Development noted that approximately 68% of cross-border criminals arrested in border states were Bangladeshi nationals who illegally entered India.[42] However, experts caution that crime patterns vary regionally along the 4,096 km border.[43]
- Narcotics trafficking: The smuggling of yaba tablets and other drugs by cross-border criminal gangs, with seizures increasing from 29,000 tablets in 2018 to over 500,000 in 2022 according to Indian narcotics control reports[44]
- Counterfeit currency: RBI data shows detection of fake Indian currency notes worth ₹25 crore between 2018-2022, mostly originating from cross-border criminals.[45]
- Cattle smuggling: Estimated ₹250 billion annual trade, with documented cases of illegal border crossings by Bangladeshi smugglers[46]
Illegal Bangladeshi migration and demographic change in India
According to United Nations estimates, approximately 2-3 million Bangladeshi nationals reside in India without proper authorization.[47] Independent studies have noted measurable demographic changes in Indian border states, though estimates of their magnitude vary significantly among sources.[48] Indian security forces report intercepting numerous infiltration attempts along the border region.[49] The Border Security Force recorded 59 border-related fatalities in 2008 during anti-infiltration operations against illegal invaders. in 2011, a 15-year-old Border shooting of Felani Khatun was fatally shot, after she was challenged several times following the standard protocol, during the interception of her attempted illegal border crossing by the Indian authorities.[50]
Border fencing program
In 2021, India's 86% completed border fencing project has reportedly reduced cross-border criminal incidents by 72% since 2015 according to strategic analyses.[51] While Bangladesh has expressed concerns about the fence's impact on border communities,[52] the two nations continue dialogue on border management through established diplomatic channels.
See also
Notes
- The four longer land borders are
- between Canada and the United States
- between Russia and Kazakhstan
- between Argentina and Chile, and
- between China and Mongolia.
References
Further reading
External links
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