Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Friday morning detained 41 people who were pushed back through border areas in Moulvibazar and Habiganj.
In Moulvibazar, 19 Bangladeshis were pushed back near the Kamalganj border. According to Lt Col ASM Zakaria, commander of BGB-46 Battalion, "The detainees are residents of the North Bengal region. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly brought them to the Bangladesh border and pushed them back into our territory."
"The individuals were apprehended around 7:30am and are currently being held at the Border Outpost (BOP) of BGB-46 Battalion," he said.
The commander said that the group was detained by personnel from Champapara BOP and Baghicharra BOP while attempting to cross the border illegally.
"After primary interrogation, the detainees would be handed over to the local police station for further legal procedures," he added.
In Habiganj, 22 people were pushed in through the Debrabari border area in Kalenga in Chunarughat upazila last night.
Habiganj BGB-55 Battalion Commander Lt Col Md Tanzilur Rahman confirmed this matter and said that the BSF pushed in 22 people at night. On receiving the news this morning, a BGB patrol team from Habiganj detained the people from the spot, he said.
According to the the commander, initial interrogation has revealed that they were all Bangladeshi citizens.
Legal proceedings are underway in this regard, he added.
