BSF takes back 10 stranded at border as Ansar-VDP also on high alert in 11 districts

Amid repeated attempts of "push-ins" by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), upazila and station-level Ansar-VDP members have been deployed in 11 border districts.

The districts are Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Satkhira, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Jamalpur and Khagrachhari, according to Ansar-VDP headquarters.

In addition, Ansar battalion members have been kept on standby to respond quickly to emerging situations and provide additional manpower when required.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the BGB is firmly resisting attempts by India to push people across the border into Bangladesh. She also revealed that the Bangladesh government has sent 12 to 13 letters to the Indian government seeking an end to such push-ins.

Meanwhile, 10 people, including women and children, who had been stranded on the zero line along the Boro Bari-Pradhanpara border in Panchagarh Sadar upazila following an alleged push-in attempt, were taken back by India's Border Security Force (BSF) after nearly 69 hours.

According to reports, the BSF removed the group at around 2:40am today (8 June) after switching off security lights along the border. 

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) confirmed that the individuals were escorted back into Indian territory.

The group had reportedly been stranded since early Friday when the BSF attempted to push them into Bangladesh through the border. 

However, strict vigilance by the BGB prevented their entry, forcing them to remain in a narrow strip of agricultural land along the zero line.

For more than 69 hours, from around 5am on Friday until 2:40am today, neither country allowed the group to enter their territory. 

As a result, they endured severe hardship while remaining exposed to rain, thunderstorms and intense heat. 

The group consisted of five men, two women, and three children.

Efforts to resolve the situation through bilateral discussions yielded no result.

On Saturday afternoon, commanders of Bangladesh's Nilphamari 56 BGB Battalion and India's 93 BSF Battalion held a flag meeting at the Boro Bari-Pradhanpara border.

A separate company commander-level meeting between the BGB's Boro Bari Border Outpost and the BSF's Sakati Camp had also taken place on Friday. 

However, both rounds of talks ended without a resolution.

Hasibul Islam, a member of Ward-7 of Haribhasha Union, told Prothom Alo, "It was raining last night. The 10 people, including women and children, were sitting on the zero line in the rain. Later, after 2:30am, while it was still drizzling, BSF personnel arrived and took them back to their side.

"It was heartbreaking to see the women and children suffering there in the sun and rain for three days. Whenever I sat down to eat at home, the faces of those children came to mind. I could barely eat properly. It is good that they have been taken away. People living in the border area also feel relieved."

Speaking to the press this morning, Lieutenant Colonel Md Sirajul Islam, commanding officer of Nilphamari 56 BGB Battalion, said the BSF switched off its security lights before taking back the 10 people, including women and children, from the zero line at around 2:40am.

He added that the BGB has maintained strict surveillance along the border and remains vigilant to prevent any future push-in attempts.

Bangladesh not allowing push-ins: Shama Obaed

State Minister Shama Obaed, while speaking to journalists at the foreign affairs ministry today (8 June), said Bangladesh is not allowing push-ins by India.

Shama Obaed said, "There is an established process for returning individuals who are staying illegally. India must follow that process."

She also warned that push-in incidents could affect efforts to restore and improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

The state minister urged India to use diplomatic channels when repatriating illegal migrants or imprisoned individuals.

"If they continue to do this through push-ins, it certainly will not be good for us. And it will not be helpful for Bangladesh-India relations. We have spoken about efforts to take the relationship to a new height, and they also talk about a paradigm shift. 

"If such a paradigm shift is to happen, then both countries should follow the existing diplomatic mechanisms and established procedures," Shama added.