Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has pushed back 17 Bangladeshi nationals, including both men and women, through two separate border points in Panchagarh district.
On Thursday morning, members of Panchagarh-18 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) battalion detained seven men from the Bhajanpur border area in Tetulia upazila.
Meanwhile, members of Nilphamari-56 BGB battalion detained one man and nine women while on duty at Ghagra border area under Panchagarh Sadar upazila the same morning.
According to BGB and police sources, all detainees had been staying in India for a long time.
BGB officials said that on Wednesday (July 30) night, BSF pushed back seven men through the Sukani BOP border in Tetulia. The individuals later took shelter in the Bhajanpur area, where they were detained by BGB with help from locals. Similarly, another 10 people were pushed back through the Ghagra border in Haribhasa union of Panchagarh Sadar, who were also taken into BGB custody. The detainees are residents of various districts across Bangladesh, including Habiganj, Sylhet, Faridpur, Khagrachhari, Gopalganj, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal, Jashore, Narsingdi, and Naogaon. Sources from BGB and police said the individuals were first arrested by Indian police and later sent back to Bangladesh through BSF.
Confirming the matter, Lieutenant Colonel Monirul Islam, commander of Panchagarh-18 BGB battalion, and Major Kazi Asif Ahmed, deputy commander (2IC) of Nilphamari-56 BGB battalion, said that the detainees have been handed over to the local police stations. Steps are being taken to verify their identities and contact their families.
