2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes

The 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes were a series of armed skirmishes between India and Bangladesh in April 2001. The clashes took place between troops of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on the poorly-marked international border between the two countries.

The clashes began on 16 April 2001, when a force of around 800 to a 1000 Bangladeshi Paramilitary soldiers attacked and captured Padua/Pyrdiwah village, breaking the status quo and forcing the civilians there to flee. Bangladesh claimed that the village had been illegally occupied by India since Bangladesh's war of Independence in 1971. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) post in Padua/Pyrdiwah village was encircled, trapping 31 BSF troops within. However, both sides held their fire and began negotiations. Over the course of the following days, about three BSF companies proceeded to reinforce the outpost. This incident was resolved later without any bloodshed.

Following this standoff, Indian BSF paramilitary troops along the Bangladesh–India border were put on high alert and ordered to begin intensive patrolling. A few days later, a small contingent of 300 BSF troops entered Bangladeshi territory near the village of Boraibari, more than 200 km to the west of Padua/Pyrdiwah, The intrusion was used as a "counter-attack" by India to retaliate after the earlier incident in Padua. Immediately upon entering Bangladeshi territory, the Indian paramilitary company were ambushed by 11 Bangladeshi border guards, at 18 April 2001 and the attack on BDR outposts were repulsed.

who were assisted by hundreds of villagers. Following their capture, The bodies of the Indian soldiers were returned to India on 20 April.

The clashes finally ended on 21 April 2001, after both sides agreed to a ceasefire. The clashes left a total of 21 people dead, including 16 Indian soldiers and three Bangladeshi border guards.

The clashes were a major setback to the improving relations between India and Bangladesh. The two countries had signed a number of agreements in the years leading up to the clashes including the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement which served an important role in advancing the exchange of 111 enclaves (17,160.63 acres) from India to Bangladesh and reciprocatively, the latter transferred 51 enclaves (7,110.02 acres) to India.