The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained 16 Bangladeshis, including a child, for illegally crossing the border from India into Bangladesh through the Benapole border on Thursday night.
They are Mintu, 37, Roni, 28, Joni, 32, Kamal Pramanik, 22, Aslam, 32, Abu Salek, 36, Bellal Hossain, 41, Rafiqul Islam, 29, Sakibul Hasan, 17, Rashida Begum, 37, Rina Khatun, 27, Rakibul Islam, 7, Nazma Khatun, 30, Bonani Shikder, 35, Shahinur Rahman, 35, and Jihad, 27.
They hail from different areas of Pirojpur, Narail and Khulna.
Lt Col Saifullah Siddiqui, commanding officer of BGB 49 Battalion, said the detainees had gone to India illegally through the Satkhira border on March 18 and 21 in search of jobs.
They were held while trying to return to the country through the Dhanjkhola border with the help of brokers.
A case was filed against them and they were turned over to Benapole port police, the BGB official added.