New Delhi: Border security forces of India and Bangladesh have accused each other of attempting to push people across the international border, escalating tensions ahead of a key bilateral border coordination meeting scheduled later this month.
On Friday, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) alleged that India’s Border Security Force (BSF) made multiple attempts in the early hours of Thursday and Friday to push individuals into Bangladeshi territory. In a statement, BGB cited incidents near Lalmonirhat and Panchagarh, adjacent to West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district, as well as Naogaon and Chapainawabganj, which border South Dinajpur, Malda and Murshidabad districts.
According to BGB, more than 70 people were intercepted at various points along the zero line, or no-man’s land, over the past 24 hours. “They are currently stranded there,” said Lt Col Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of BGB’s 15 Lalmonirhat Battalion.
BSF officials had not responded to the specific allegations at the time of reporting.
The claims came even as BSF accused BGB of attempting to facilitate the illegal entry of 10 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, into India through the Panishala area of Mekhliganj in Cooch Behar district. BSF said additional personnel were deployed to prevent the group from crossing into Indian territory. BGB, however, rejected the allegation.
Ten Individuals Remain Stranded
A video circulating on social media purportedly shows BSF and BGB personnel discussing the situation near a group of stranded individuals. With neither side accepting responsibility for them, the 10 people reportedly remain stuck near the border. Efforts to hold a flag meeting were unsuccessful, with BGB allegedly declining to participate. BSF has since intensified patrolling in the area.
BGB said that in Naogaon, 17 individuals, including five children, were stopped near the zero line on Friday morning. In Lalmonirhat, its personnel intercepted 33 people at Hatibandha, Patgram and Aditmari. The force also reported stopping 28 individuals, including 10 women and six children, near the Chapainawabganj border early on Thursday.
The Bangladeshi force stated that it remains on high alert to prevent any infiltration or push-in attempts along the border.
The developments come amid efforts by the West Bengal government to identify and deport Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in the state. They also precede the 57th India-Bangladesh Border Coordination Conference, where senior BGB and BSF officials are scheduled to meet in New Delhi from June 8 to 11.
