Foreign ministry tells India to stop push-ins

Bangladesh has called on India to immediately stop the recent push-in of people across the border, warning that such actions pose risks to security and undermine mutual understanding.

In a letter sent on May 8, the foreign ministry raised concern over people being pushed into the country and urged New Delhi to adhere to established repatriation mechanisms, people with knowledge of proceedings told The Daily Star.

The move follows reports that India's Border Security Force (BSF) pushed in around 300 people, including Rohingyas, into Bangladesh between May 7 and May 9 through remote points along the border.

These include areas such as Panchari, Jamini Para and Khedachhara in Khagrachhari; areas in Moulvibazar; the Raumari char regions in Kurigram; and the remote Mandarbaria island in the Sundarbans.

Amid such incidents, the BGB has ramped up patrols and heightened vigilance along the borders, he added.

The foreign ministry's letter warned that such actions could jeopardise overall security and fuel negative public sentiment.

The push-ins violate existing bilateral frameworks, including the 1975 India-Bangladesh joint guidelines for border authorities, the 2011 Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and decisions made during director general-level talks between the BGB and BSF, according to a foreign ministry official.

The letter reiterated that Bangladesh would only accept individuals confirmed as Bangladeshi citizens and repatriated through proper channels.

Any deviation from this would harm mutual understanding between the two countries.

It also said any Rohingya individuals found within Indian territory should be returned to Myanmar, their country of origin -- not to Bangladesh.

"For the sake of peace and stability along the Bangladesh–India border, such push-ins are unacceptable and should be avoided," the letter said.

Dhaka further called for enhanced coordination between the two countries' border forces to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Coast Guard yesterday said 75 people -- 72 of Bangladeshi origin and three Indians -- who were pushed in through the Sundarbans' remote Mandarbaria Char area on May 9, were tortured.

Quoting the victims, the Coast Guard, in a statement, said Indian police allegedly raided their homes in Gujarat on April 26, bulldozed those, and subjected them and their families to inhumane torture.

They were reportedly blindfolded, flown on military aircraft to undisclosed locations -- with family members taken separately -- then transported by ship to the Sundarbans.

During the journey, they faced physical abuse, religious slurs, and were denied food, it added.

The victims, long-time residents of Gujarat, later walked to the Mandarbaria Forest Office seeking help.

The Coast Guard's West Zone unit rescued them, provided food and medical aid, and handed them over to Shyamnagar Police Station in Satkhira on May 11.

The victims remain unaware of their families' whereabouts, the statement added.