109 pushed in from India through 8 border districts since last night
A total of 109 people were pushed into Bangladesh reportedly by India's Border Security Force (BSF) through eight border districts -- Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Moulvibazar, Feni, Cumilla and Khagrachhari — since last night.
PANCHAGARH
Twenty-one individuals were detained by BGB after being pushed in through the Joydharbhanga Borobari border in Panchagarh Sadar upazila early today.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The group included 14 children (aged between three months and 17 years), one 22-year-old youth, and six women (aged between 19 and 55) — all hailing from Khulna and Narail districts.
Lt Col Sheikh Mohammad Bodruddoza, commanding officer of Nilphamari BGB-56 Battalion, said, "Members of Joydharbhanga Border Outpost (BOP) detained the individuals after they were pushed in near pillar no. 757/10-S."
He added that the detainees had been living in various parts of Gujarat, India, for a long time and were handed over by Indian police to the BSF, who then pushed them into Bangladesh.
BGB called for a flag meeting where BSF denied any involvement, but BGB strongly protested the breach of protocol.
Later in the morning, BGB called for a flag meeting with their Indian counterpart.
BSF officials subsequently attended a company commander-level flag meeting at the zero line, where BGB strongly protested the push-in, saying it violated proper repatriation protocols.
But BSF officials denied any involvement or knowledge of the individuals pushed in, said the BGB CO.
Earlier, 28 others were similarly detained after being pushed in through the Thakurgaon and Panchagarh borders.
Inspector HSM Shohrawardi of Panchagarh Police Station confirmed a case is being filed in this connection.
LALMONIRHAT
Twenty individuals, including 11 women, two men, and seven children, were pushed in through Dhabalsuti and Jhalangi borders in Patgram upazila last night.
Nayek Subedar Abdul Matin of 61 BGB Battalion's Dhabalsuti BOP (border outpost) camp said, "We rescued and brought them to our camp for initial interrogation. Later, they were handed over to Patgram Police Station. Preliminary information suggests they were pushed-in by BSF under the cover of darkness."
Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman of Patgram Police Station said, "Among the 20, identities, addresses, and reasons for returning are currently being verified. Legal action will be taken in accordance with our findings."
MOULVIBAZAR
In Kulaura upazila, seven individuals -- two men, two women, and three children, all from Kurigram district -- were pushed in through the Muroichhara border this morning.
Lt Col ASM Zakaria, commander of BGB Battalion-46, said, "All seven individuals are Bangladeshi citizens. Their identities have been verified. They will be handed over to Kulaura Police Station for further legal procedures."
OC Md Golam Apsar of Kulaura Police Station confirmed, saying, "Necessary legal action will be taken as per instructions from higher authorities."
This was the second such incident at the same border in eight days.
FENI
BSF pushed back 39 individuals, including women and children, through border points in Chhagalnaiya and Fulgazi upazilas last night.
Lt Col Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain of BGB-4 Battalion said, "BSF returned 39 Bangladeshi nationals through the borders of Chhagalnaiya and Fulgazi. After verifying documents, 12 were handed over to Fulgazi Police Station and another 12 to Chhagalnaiya Police Station. The remaining 15 are being processed."
Chhagalnaiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam said, "All 12 handed over to the station are from Kurigram district. Measures will be taken as per further instructions."
Fulgazi Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Lutfur Rahman said, "12 were already handed over, and preparations are underway to receive another 15."
A source revealed that the returnees had been living in India, some since 2007, mostly working at brick kilns.
Feni Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said, "Legal procedures are ongoing for the 39 individuals pushed back by BSF."
CUMILLA
Thirteen Bangladeshi nationals, including men, women, and children, were pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF through the Golabari border in Cumilla Sadar upazila.
The incident occurred this morning.
Lt Col Mir Ali Ejaz, commander of the Cumilla 10-BGB, said the BGB's 60th patrol team detained the 13 individuals during the push-in.
Among them were three men, three women, and seven children.
He also said during initial questioning, it was confirmed that all of them are Bangladeshi citizens and were forced across the border by the BSF.
They are currently in BGB custody.
After verification, they will be handed over to the relevant district administration.
THAKURGAON, DINAJPUR
BGB detained two women aged 63 and 45 along Boirchuna border in Thakurgaon's Pirganj upazila today and two brothers, aged 24 and 16, along Ramchandrapur border in Birol upazila in Dinajpur early today.
In primary interrogation, the four informed that they went India's Gujarat through brokers for jobs and had been living there for five to ten years, said a BGB official.
The Indian police detained them about a month ago and handed them over to 63, BSF Battalion who later pushed them into Bangladeshi territory through different Thakurgaon and Dinajpur borders, said Commanding Officer of Dinajpur 42,BGB Battalion Lt Col Abdullah Al Moin Hasan.
Two separate company commander-level flag meetings between the two border guards were held at the respective borders where BGB strongly protested the push in which BSF officials denied, he added.
Process is underway to file cases in respective Thakurgaon and Dinajpur police stations, police said.
KHAGRACHHARI
BGB detained five people, including a child, after they were pushed in through the Ramgarh border early today, reports Prothom Alo quoting UNO.
During initial questioning, the detainees said that they had been working as labourers at a brick kiln in Haryana, said Ramgarh Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ismat Jahan.
She said that the five individuals were being temporarily sheltered at Ramgarh Government High School.
Officials from BGB, the local administration, and Ramgarh police are jointly handling the situation, she added.
FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT
Asked about the matter, a foreign ministry official said Dhaka has received a letter from New Delhi, which said more than 2,000 undocumented Bangladeshis are now in India.
"We have objected to the pushing-in of Bangladeshis and following the legal mechanism to follow. We haven't, however, received any proper explanation about the push-ins," the official said.
Asked about expediting the verification process, the official said it is a regular process, which is applicable for both the countries.
"Any perceived delay of verification cannot be used as a factor for pushing-in," he told The Daily Star.
Comments