India and Bangladesh share a border that spans over 4,096 kilometers, making it the sixth-longest land border in the world. Since the early 2000s, India has been constructing a double barbed-wire fence along parts of this border, with some sections reinforced by brick and concrete walls. The stated goal of this project, which has cost over 4 billion dollars, is to prevent undocumented migration, smuggling, and unauthorized entry. As of February 2025, more than 3,232 kilometers of the border have been fenced, but approximately 950 kilometers remain unfenced due to challenges in acquiring the necessary land. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF), responsible for monitoring the border, has adopted strategies influenced by the Israeli security barrier in the West Bank. Despite these efforts, the border has been described as "the most lethal in the world." Over the years, a significant number of Bangladeshi citizens have been killed by BSF forces. Between 2000 and 2020, 1,236 Bangladeshi civilians were killed at the border, and by 2025, that number had risen to at least 1,987, with 296 deaths recorded between 2016 and 2025. One of the most well-known cases highlighting the human cost of this border enforcement is that of Felani Khatun, a 15-year-old girl who was killed by BSF forces in 2011 while trying to cross into India. Her death sparked widespread public outrage and drew attention to the pattern of lethal force used against unauthorized Bangladeshi immigrants. Although the BSF has introduced non-lethal methods such as rubber bullets, tear gas, and batons since the mid-2010s, the overall level of violence has not significantly decreased, only shifting in form. Despite the extensive fencing, smuggling of livestock, drugs, and people continues to occur across the border. A BSF official acknowledged in 2020 that transnational crimes had reached record levels, with Bangladeshis seeking Phensedyl, a banned cough syrup in their country. The official also noted that between 6,000 and 8,000 people had been pushed back by BSF forces the previous year. The effectiveness of the fence is further challenged by the difficult terrain, including rivers that shift course, and reports of corruption among border guards. Meanwhile, the border fence has also strained diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. Following the fall of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, tensions escalated, leading India to close 3,271 kilometers of the border area. Bangladesh protested, citing violations of a 1975 bilateral agreement that restricts the construction of defensive structures within 150 meters of the border. Despite the significant investment and security measures, the India-Bangladesh border remains a paradox: the most fortified in South Asia and one of the deadliest on the planet.