Our Correspondent
NAOGAON, June 24: An attempt by India's Border Security Force (BSF) to push nine people into Bangladesh through the Adatala border in Sapahar upazila of Naogaon was foiled on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, four people were detained by local residents while allegedly entering Bangladesh illegally under the cover of darkness through the Bontara border in Shankarpur Union of Dinajpur Sadar upazila on the same day.
In a statement, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)-16 Naogaon Battalion said that members of the Elenpur BSF camp under the 29th BSF Battalion pushed three men, three women and three children toward Bangladesh through border pillar 244/MP in the Adatala BOP area.
The statement said that a patrol team from Adatala BOP rushed to the spot and identified the individuals while they were still within the zero line on the Indian side of the border. They remain in the zero-line area, and additional BGB personnel have been deployed to maintain security.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commanding officer of BGB-16 Naogaon Battalion, said that patrols had been intensified and that no one would be allowed to enter Bangladesh illegally.
On June 5 and June 8, the BSF allegedly attempted to push 40 people into Bangladesh through border areas in Porsha and Sapahar upazilas of Naogaon. However, the attempts were foiled after resistance from BGB personnel and local residents, forcing the BSF to take them back.
In Dinajpur, local residents said that three men and one woman attempted to enter Bangladesh through Shalki Maijakuri village in Shankarpur Union at around 6:00 am on Wednesday. They were later detained and taken to the local union council office.
Pankaj Basak, member of Ward No-4 of Shankarpur Union Parishad, confirmed the incident. He said that two of the detainees were identified as Akubbar Molla and his wife Jahanara Begum of Mirzapur village under Kalia municipality in Narail district. One of the remaining detainees is their son, while the other is reportedly Akubbar's brother.
Basak said he spoke with local representatives and family members, who informed him that the detainees frequently travelled to and from India in search of work, though no one could explain how they crossed the border.
Lieutenant Colonel Arifuzzaman, commanding officer of BGB-29 Phulbari Battalion, said the Dinajpur incident was not a push-in attempt but an illegal border crossing.
“We are questioning them and will provide further details later,” he said.
