Thakurgaon Correspondent: A tense 48-hour standoff at the Bangladesh-India border ended early Monday when India's Border Security Force (BSF) took back 11 people, including women and children, who had remained stranded at the zero line along the Mashalgaon border in Haripur upazila.
The group, comprising three men, four women and four children, was removed from the border area and taken back into Indian territory at around 3:00 am, according to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials.
Among those stranded were a sixth-grade schoolgirl, her nine-month-pregnant mother and her younger brother, who is physically challenged, highlighting the humanitarian concerns surrounding the incident.
The individuals had reportedly been left at the zero line near border pillar 349/7-S under the Mashalgaon Border Outpost (BOP) following an alleged attempt by the BSF to push them into Bangladesh in the early hours of June 6.
Upon receiving information, members of the Border Guard Bangladesh rushed to the area and prevented any unauthorized entry into Bangladeshi territory. The group subsequently remained at the border for nearly two days as authorities from both sides dealt with the situation.
According to BGB officials, the stranded individuals endured difficult conditions while staying in the open near the frontier, drawing attention from local residents and border authorities.
During initial questioning, the group claimed they had been residing in the Dum Dum area of West Bengal. They alleged that Indian law enforcement agencies detained them on May 26 along with hundreds of other people and kept them at a designated facility before separating them into smaller groups.
According to their accounts, they were later transported to different locations along the India-Bangladesh border. Before being brought to the Mashalgaon frontier, they reportedly spent a day at the Bohargaon camp of the 87 BSF Battalion.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over alleged push-in attempts along various sections of the Bangladesh-India border in recent months. Border security experts say such incidents often create humanitarian challenges while also raising diplomatic and security concerns for both countries.
Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Moin Hasan, commanding officer of Dinajpur Battalion (42 BGB), said the border force maintained a firm position throughout the standoff and continued surveillance to prevent any unauthorized cross-border movement.
He said BGB has reinforced monitoring and increased patrol activities in the area to ensure border security and prevent illegal infiltration.
"The BGB remains vigilant and committed to protecting the country's borders while dealing with such situations in accordance with established procedures," he said.
The development comes ahead of the upcoming director general-level talks between Border Guard Bangladesh and India's Border Security Force, where border management issues are expected to feature prominently.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday that all major border-related matters, including alleged push-ins and unauthorized cross-border movements, would be discussed during the four-day meeting between the chiefs of the two border forces.
He noted that the director general-level conference is held alternately in Bangladesh and India and that the forthcoming session will provide an opportunity for both sides to address outstanding issues and strengthen cooperation in border management.
Officials hope the discussions will contribute to reducing tensions, improving coordination and preventing similar incidents along the frontier in the future.
