The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has pushed 18 people, including women and children, through three separate border points in Panchagarh early on Wednesday, June 25.
The incidents occurred along Shukoni border in Tetulia Upazila, and Tokapara and Joydhor Bhanga borders in Sadar Upazila.
According to sources from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local border authorities, members of India’s 46 BSF Battalion from Tapravita Camp pushed five individuals, including women and children, into Bangladesh through sub-pillar 4 of main pillar 741 in Shukoni border area under the jurisdiction of the 56 BGB battalion. Later in the morning, a BGB patrol team from Bhajanpur BOP of 18 BGB Battalion detained them in Dhanshuka area under Debnagar Union.
Around the same time, six more individuals, also including women and children, were pushed through sub-pillars 3 and 4 of main pillar 745 at Tokapara border. They were later detained by a BGB patrol team from Tokapara BOP in Komolapara area.
In a third incident, BSF personnel from Shyam BOP of the same 46 Battalion pushed back seven more persons through sub-pillar 9 of main pillar 758 at Joydhor Bhanga border under Chaklahat Union. BGB members from Joydhor Bhanga BOP detained them shortly afterward.
BGB has confirmed that the process of handing over the detainees to police stations in Sadar and Tetulia is underway.
Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Hil Zaman said that 13 of the pushed-back individuals had already been handed over to police by the BGB. All of them have been identified as Bangladeshi nationals.
He said that they are being provided with necessary security and medical care, and legal action will be taken based on identity verification.
