Security concerns rise as Bangladesh deploys Bayraktar TB2 drones near India-Bangladesh border

Meghalaya police inform BSF of UAV sightings along India-Bangladesh border

Recent sightings of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, close to the India-Bangladesh border, have raised significant security concerns. The drones, spotted near Sohra and Shella, have prompted the Meghalaya police to inform the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), highlighting potential threats amid increasing tensions in neighboring Bangladesh.

The UAVs were detected flying over areas near Chhatak and Sunamganj in Bangladesh. A senior BSF official speculated that Bangladesh’s deployment of these UAVs could be an attempt to assert its strength domestically, especially considering the current political unrest. “Such actions often serve to rally internal support rather than pose a direct security threat to neighbors,” the official noted.

The Bayraktar TB2, developed by Turkish manufacturer Baykar, is a highly advanced UAV with capabilities in both surveillance and precision strike missions. The UAVs, which are part of Bangladesh’s military modernization efforts, have an operational range of 300 km and an endurance of 27 hours. One of the UAVs spotted in the region was reportedly operated from Tejgaon Airbase in Bangladesh.

As tensions rise, India is closely monitoring the situation. The Indian Armed Forces have increased their surveillance capabilities along the border, with heightened vigilance and intelligence-sharing mechanisms in place. India’s air defence systems are capable of tracking and neutralizing unauthorized UAVs if they breach Indian airspace. Indian officials have stated that if the Bayraktar drones cross into Indian territory, the military is prepared to take immediate countermeasures, including deploying fighter jets to visually identify and potentially neutralize the threat.

This move by Bangladesh follows a similar acquisition by Pakistan, which has also deployed Bayraktar TB2 drones in the region. Analysts suggest that these developments indicate a potential shift in Bangladesh’s foreign policy towards closer alignment with Pakistan and China, distancing itself from India.

The use of UAVs like the Bayraktar TB2 for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions along international borders is becoming increasingly common, raising concerns about the growing reliance on drones in modern border security operations. Despite these concerns, experts assert that India’s military and air defence capabilities are well-equipped to deal with such threats should they materialize on Indian soil.

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