Infant among 9 stranded at no-man’s land for 4 days

KURIGR AM, June 17: A humanitarian crisis is unfolding along the Roumari border in Kurigram, where nine people, including a six-month-old infant and another young child, have remained stranded in the no-man’s land for nearly 96 hours.

The group has been living under a makeshift shelter near border pillar 1060, exposed to intense heat, uncertain conditions and limited basic facilities. With inadequate access to food, safe drinking water, sanitation and medical care, their situation is becoming increasingly critical.

According to local sources, the incident began on Sunday when India’s Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly attempted to push several individuals into Bangladesh through the Goytapara and Bhandurchar border points in Roumari upazila. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) reportedly blocked the entry, after which the group took shelter in the zero-line area along the border.

A company commander-level flag meeting between BGB and BSF was held on June 14 in an attempt to resolve the situation. However, the meeting ended without agreement after the BSF reportedly denied allegations of a push-in attempt. As a result, the nine individuals remain stranded in the border area.

The condition of the children has raised particular concern among local residents and community leaders.
Sumi Akter, one of the stranded individuals and mother of the six-month-old infant, described the difficult situation faced by the families.

“We have been staying here for several days under the open sky. There is no proper food, clean water or shelter. My children are suffering in the heat and often cry because we cannot provide them with what they need. Local people occasionally give us biscuits and bread, which is how we are surviving,” she said.