Salauddin Kazol, Jibannagar (Chuadanga)
The risk of indian variant Covid infection is increasing because the Bangladeshis stranded in India are crossing the border illegally to enter Bangladesh.
They are entering Bangladesh through Maheshpur of Jhenaidah and Jibannagar border of Chuadanga.
Allegations are there that brokers from both the countries are communicating on mobile phones and people are crossing the border during the night in exchange for large sum of money.
According to health officials, such illegal crossing is very risky as it increases the chances of spreading the Indian variant of Covid-19.
Lockdowns have been declared in many border districts due to the spread of the Indian variant of the Covid-19 virus in the country.
In the light of this, lockdowns have also been declared in Maheshpur of Jhenaidah district and Jibannagar and Damurhuda upazilas bordering Chuadanga district.
BGB patrol has been intensified; but illegal crossing of border is still going on.
Brokers on the other side of the border keep in close touch with the Bangladeshis on this side. In exchange for a hefty amount of money, Bangladeshis are sent across the border taking advantage of the darkness of night. Very few people were detained while they were entering the border, but most of the people escape the notice of the BGB patrol.
According to 58 BGB sources, the BGB detained about 950 people from January 1 to June 15 this year. 149 cases have been filed in the border Maheshpur police station and Jibannagar police station under the Passport Act against those people.
It is learnt that from April 26 till now, the journey from Bangladesh to India has almost stopped. Illegal entry from India to Bangladesh has increased.
Since May 10, 65 people have been detained by the BGB during illegal entry from India.
Jhenaidah district has an Indian border area of 60 kms and Chuadanga has 146 kms. People often travel through these areas illegally. Locals, BGB and police said that there is more traffic especially during the night.
There are 10 BOP camps of 58-BGB in these areas: Jadavpur, Matila, Samanta, Palianpur, Baghadanga, Khosalpur, Laraighat, Benipur, Kusumpur and Srinathpur.
There are nine more BOP camps under the 58-BGB, which fall in the adjoining district of Chuadanga.
Satyacharan Sarkar, a resident of Kashipur village on the Indian side of the Bangladesh-India border, used to cross the wire fence and came for farming every day.
"We (citizens of both countries) have been cultivating the land for a long time," he said.
He further said that they go to the houses of neighboring Bangladeshis and vice versa. However, after the pandemic broke out in India, the BGB banned Indians from crossing the border. For that reason, even though he worked on the land, he stopped going to Bangladesh.
ABM Shahidul Islam, chairman of Jadavpur union on the Indian border in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah, said, "Anyone entering our country from India now means bringing danger. The cooperation of the locals living at the border is needed to stop the illegal movement.”
Jhenaidah Maheshpur-58 BGB Battalion Director Lt. Colonel Kamrul Ahsan said BGB patrols at the border have been intensified. The cooperation of the people living at the border has been sought so that no one can enter Bangladesh illegally. They were also told not to cross the border.
Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner Mojibur Rahman and Chuadanga District Administrator Nazrul Islam Sarkar said that the Upazila Nirbahi officials have been directed to hold meetings with the people's representatives of Maheshpur border area and Jibannagar and Damurhuda border areas.
The authorities said they hope that no one is entering through this border with the BGB patrolling. If they enter, they will be brought under the law and sent for 14 days of quarantine.
