India-Bangladesh borders after the July–August 2024 uprising: A future unfolds beyond our conventional knowledge

Abstract

This study explores the intersection of porous borders, political mobility, and governance through an analysis of the India-Bangladesh border during the July–August 2024 uprising. Drawing on qualitative interviews with border officials, smugglers, affected families, and political figures, it examines how political elites exploited the porous border to evade accountability amidst the collapse of the Awami League government. The findings reveal the entrenched role of dalals (middlemen) in facilitating illegal border crossings through bribery, forged documents, and strategic coordination with local authorities on both sides. The study also highlights the complicity of state actors and the socio-political dynamics that sustain these networks, reinforcing corruption and undermining state sovereignty. Theoretical insights from border theory, state sovereignty, and political mobility emphasize how transnational networks blur the boundaries of state authority, allowing elites to evade justice and perpetuate authoritarian practices. By interrogating the dual role of borders as barriers and conduits, the research contributes to a broader understanding of governance, power asymmetries, and the socio-political impact of elite flight in contested borderlands.

Keywords

authoritarianism border theory India-Bangladesh border political elites smuggling networks

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