India shares over 4,000 kilometre-long border with Bangladesh, where the situation following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime remains grim. Six Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya share borders with Bangladesh. India has beefed up security along the border, wary of any trouble spilling over from across the border.
The images in this photo essay are from the Petrapole-Benapole border, located in West Bengal. The Petrapole-Benapole border is Asia’s largest international land border, and is also a busy trading hub. Truck drivers from both sides park their vehicles at this border and exchange items. Buses and trains ferrying people across the neighbouring countries frequent this route.
People at the Indo-Bangladesh border gate. The gate is used for people to cross over and for the traffic movement. Bangladesh founding father Mujib Ur Rehaman’s picture is seen on the Bangladeshi side. Photo: Shome Basu.
Under the shadow of India’s Border Security Force and Bangladesh’s Border Guard, which patrol the fenced international border, villagers from either side visit their farmlands in the no man’s land during the day. These farmers return home when the gates close at five in the evening. The border districts of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal and Khulna in Bangladesh struggle with law and order issues, and smuggling.
India’s Border Security (BSF) personnel patrol the border area. A cycle is the only mode of transport to pass through these rice fields. Photo: Shome Basu.
Until 1971, the same border separated India from East Pakistan. The border drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe partitioned undivided India in 1947. Since 1971, when Bangladesh was established, this border has come to be known as the Indo-Bangladesh border.
In 1947, following the Partition, millions crossed this border. My family was one of them. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Indian army tanks crossed this border to support Mukhti Youdhya against Pakistan. Millions of refugees from East Pakistan (now, Bangladesh) poured over into West Bengal. Bangaon, the last railway station on the Indian side before entering Bangladesh, was a hub of refugees during Partition. P.N. Banerjee, eastern zone commander of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), conducted his camps and covert operations from these very lands, located around Bongaon and Bashirhat.
People from a border village assemble at the fence separating India and Bangladesh. Many of these villagers work for intelligence agencies for their respective countries. Photo: Shome Basu.
Today, this international border is a hub of trade and human movement. Most people cross the border into India from Bangladesh for their healthcare needs, and even Tablighi Jamaat cadres who visit Delhi’s Markaz in Nizamuddin use this border. These images are a slice of daily life at the Indo-Bangladesh border and the adjoining villages.
West Bengal buses, carrying people to Dhaka, pass through this border. There have been several instances when hooligans attacked these buses on the border. Photo: Shome Basu.
The Petrapole-Benapole border, connecting India and Bangladesh, serves as a busy trading tub. Photo: Shome Basu.
Border guards patrol the rail tracks crossing through the international border connecting India and Bangladesh. Photo: Shome Basu.
Young men from villages along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Photo: Shome Basu.
A market near the India-Bangladesh border. Photo: Shome Basu.
A commercial area along the India-Bangladesh border. Photo: Shome Basu.
People walk on the Indian side of the Indo-Bangladesh border. The fence separates India from Bangladesh. Photo: Shome Basu.
Villages along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Photo: Shome Basu.
People crossing the border gate. Photo: Shome Basu.
