In two days-Friday and Thursday Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) blocked several attempted push-ins along the Bangladesh-India border in three extreme border districts-Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj-Panchagarh, leaving dozens of people stranded in the zero-line area, BGB officials confirmed.
In Lalmonirhat, BGB foiled three separate push-in attempts allegedly made by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). According to Lt Col Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of BGB-15 Lalmonirhat Battalion, a total of 33 people were attempted to be pushed into Bangladesh through border areas under Hatibandha, Patgram and Aditmari upazilas.
BGB and local sources said 11 people were attempted to be pushed through the Barakhata BOP area in Hatibandha, 10 through the Paishattabari BOP area in Patgram, and 12 through the Durgapur Dighaltari border area in Aditmari.
BGB members, with support from local residents, intervened and stopped the attempts, leaving the individuals stranded at or near the zero line. The battalion said the border remains under close surveillance and security has been intensified.
In Chapainawabganj's Gomostapur upazila, at least 28 people remained stranded near border pillar 203/6-S at the Bangabari border after a similar attempted push-in was foiled early Thursday, said Lt Col Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commanding officer of BGB-16 Naogaon Battalion. The group includes 12 men, 10 women and six children.
A flag meeting at company commander level was followed by a battalion commander-level discussion between BGB and BSF officials. While BSF initially denied the allegation, it later acknowledged the matter during talks and said it would report it to higher authorities. However, BGB said no further communication had been received.
The stranded group was located around 50 yards inside Indian territory near the zero line.
In Panchagarh, BSF attempted to push 10 more people, including women and children, through the Barabari-Pradhanpara border area early Friday morning. Lt Col Md Sirajul Islam, commanding officer of Nilphamari-56 BGB Battalion, said the identities of the individuals have not yet been verified. He added that they would not be allowed to enter Bangladesh until confirmed, in line with international procedures.
