India’s repeated use of lethal force along the border with Bangladesh demands more than routine diplomatic protests. The latest killings of two Bangladeshi citizens by India’s Border Security Force underscore a long pattern of excessive and unreasonable conduct that Dhaka can no longer treat as isolated incidents. Border security is a legitimate concern for any nation, but no justification supports the shooting of unarmed civilians who pose no imminent threat.
Bangladesh should lodge a formal and forceful protest, but that cannot be the final step. Dhaka must also demonstrate that there is a cost to continued disregard for human life. This can include suspending local coordination mechanisms until credible investigations are guaranteed, demanding joint inquiry teams with transparent reporting, and conditioning certain forms of bilateral cooperation on measurable improvements in India’s rules of engagement.
For decades, Bangladesh has approached these incidents with patience, emphasizing stability and regional goodwill. That restraint has not been reciprocated. A firmer posture is necessary not to escalate tensions, but to uphold basic rights and deter further killings. Bangladesh owes its citizens nothing less.