Two BD cops detained by BSF freed

 
Cumilla, Oct, 16:  India's Border Security Force (BSF) has handed back two Bangladeshi policemen detained after they strayed across the border in Cumilla.

The handover followed a battalion commander-level flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the BSF at the Shashidal border in Brahmanpara Upazila on Friday afternoon, the BGB said in a statement.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Md Imran Hossain and Constable Rohit Dewan of Brahmanpara Police Station were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) around 1:30pm following a flag meeting between the two sides near main border pillar No. 2057 in the Narayanpur border area.

Commanding Officer of Sultanpur Battalion (60 Battalion) Lt Col SM Shariful Islam, commander of Shashidal Border Outpost Subedar Mohammad Takbir Hossain, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Debidwar Circle) Md Shahin and Brahmanpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Faruk Hossain attended the meeting.

The incident took place around 11:30pm on Thursday in the Ashabari area of Shashidal union, near border pillar No. 2059.

The two policemen had gone to the border area to conduct an anti-narcotics drive when a suspected drug trader tried to flee after spotting them.

Rohit chased the suspect but was detained by several Indian nationals near the border. When Imran went to rescue his colleague, he was also detained.

Senior officials of the BGB and BSF held discussions over the incident before the two policemen were handed over, according to officials.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has strongly condemned the reported detention of two Bangladeshi police officers by BSF. Describing the incident as deeply concerning, he said it posed a threat to national security.

Porwar said border guards and law enforcement agencies of the two independent neighbouring countries should respect each other’s rights and dignity while maintaining mutual security. He alleged that an aggressive approach by the Indian side was undermining these principles.