Roni Akand Joypurhat Special Correspondent:
The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has once again tried to push three people from India into Bangladesh through the Bhutiapara border in Joypurhat Sadar Upazila. However, the attempt failed due to the activities of local villagers and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Currently, the BGB is stationed at the zero line of the 275/8-S sub-pillar of the border with the three people.
At around 3:30 am on Saturday (July 11), the BSF tried to force an old man and two women to enter Bangladesh through the 275/8-S sub-pillar of the West Ramakrishnapur area of the Bhutiapara border.
According to local villagers and BGB sources, BSF members tried to force the three people to enter Bangladesh by turning off the light posts at the border in the early morning. Upon realizing the matter, the villagers detained them and informed the BGB. Later, BGB members went to the spot and took the three people to the zero line. Currently, BGB members are keeping a tight watch there.
The detainees include Hafizur Rahman (65) from Narail district, Nasima Begum (50) from Lohagara upazila of Narail and Shiuli Khatun (35) from Siddhirganj upazila of Narayanganj. This is how their identities were initially revealed.
Shafiqul Islam, a member of the local Dhalahar Union Parishad, said that when the BSF tried to push three people in the morning, the villagers resisted. Later, the BGB was informed. According to the detainees, a total of five people were tried to push them. Of these, three were detained, but no definite information was available about the whereabouts of the remaining two.
According to BGB sources, a flag meeting was held between the BGB and the BSF at the camp commander level over the incident. In the meeting, the BGB made it clear that under no circumstances would they be allowed to push them into Bangladesh by force. The BGB told the BSF that since the people were staying in India, it was the BSF’s responsibility to take necessary action regarding them. After the meeting, the BSF members left the three at the zero line and returned.
All three are currently at the zero line. BGB members are on alert there. A tense situation prevails in the border area over this incident.