Amit Shah Announces High-Level Committee for Indo-Bangladesh Border Security

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday the formation of a high-level committee to oversee the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) amid the escalating unrest in Bangladesh. The committee will be headed by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) for the Eastern Command, as detailed in Shah’s post on X (formerly Twitter).

The newly established panel will focus on maintaining effective communication with Bangladeshi authorities and ensuring the safety of Indian nationals, including minority communities such as Hindus, living in the region.

The decision comes in response to a severe political crisis in Bangladesh, which erupted in mid-July over a contentious quota system. The unrest began on July 16 when protests at Dhaka University, led by student activists, clashed with supporters of the ruling Awami League Party. Since then, violence has claimed over 500 lives, according to local media reports.

While the violence was partially subdued after the Bangladesh Supreme Court’s ruling on July 21, which annulled most of the quota system, protests reignited. Demonstrators have since demanded a public apology from Sheikh Hasina, who resigned as Prime Minister on Monday and fled to India due to safety concerns.

The scale of the protests led to significant damage, including the breach and looting of Hasina’s official residence, Gono Bhaban, in Dhaka. On Thursday evening, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in. This new administration includes 15 advisory council members, among them key figures from the student protests.