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BSF fires at Bangladeshis, takes away four boats along border

Published : Thursday, 10 September, 2026 at 8:35 PM

Observer Correspondent

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) fired five rounds targeting Bangladeshi people collecting sand and stones from small non-mechanised boats in the zero-line area of the Dharla River along the Bangladesh-India border.

Locals alleged that BSF personnel crossed about 15 yards into Bangladeshi territory and opened fire without any apparent reason. The BSF also took away four boats being used by the Bangladeshis to collect sand and stones from the river. The incident occurred around noon on Thursday.

The transboundary Dharla River enters Bangladesh through the Burimari land port area of Burimari Union in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat after flowing through the Changrabandha border area under Mekhliganj Police Station in Cooch Behar district of India’s West Bengal.

Several Bangladeshis living in the border area earn their livelihood by collecting sand and stones using non-mechanised boats from the Bangladeshi side of the river near the zero line of the Burimari land port.

On Thursday noon, around 20 to 25 BSF personnel came to the riverbank and two of them raised their weapons and opened fire targeting the Bangladeshi sand and stone collectors. No one was injured, but the firing caused concern among residents living near the border.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) protested the incident and called for a flag meeting with the BSF. BGB personnel are currently maintaining a heightened alert along the border.

According to border sources and the BGB, the Changrabandha border area under Mekhliganj Police Station in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal lies opposite Burimari Union.

At the Dharla River border area near Border Pillar No. 842, sub-pillars 4 and 5, a patrol team of the BSF’s 62 Battalion from Panishala Camp fired five blank rounds targeting Bangladeshi sand and stone collectors. The BSF personnel also took four boats away from the river.

After learning about the incident, members of a BGB patrol team from the Poyshatbari BGB Camp under Srirampur Union went to the spot.

The commander of the Burimari company headquarters subsequently protested the firing and called for a flag meeting with the commander of the BSF’s Panishala Camp.

Around five hours later, a flag meeting between the Burimari and Changrabandha company commanders was held near the incident site at around 6:30 PM. During the meeting, the BGB protested the firing.

Burimari Company Commander Subedar Rezaul Karim declined to disclose details of the meeting.

In a press release posted in the WhatsApp group of BGB 61 Battalion (Teesta-2), the BGB said Bangladeshi citizens had gone to an area called Barmatal, about 20 yards inside Indian territory between the border pillars, prompting BSF personnel from Panishala Camp to fire five blank rounds.

The BGB statement also said the BSF took four boats from the riverbank to its camp. The matter was reported to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Officer-in-Charge (OC).

However, several eyewitnesses who were present during the incident, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the Bangladeshi sand and stone collectors had not entered Indian territory.

Several people reportedly recorded the incident on video. A video circulated on social media appears to show BSF personnel entering the river, hitting and damaging the boats, and taking away several of them.

Karimul Islam, assistant director (AD) of BGB 61 Battalion (Teesta-2), said the BGB had protested after the BSF opened fire along the border.

“I heard that a flag meeting was held at the company commander level. I am outside at the moment, so I cannot provide details. I will inform you after finding out,” he said.

-MHM/MT