The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly pushed back 44 individuals, including women and children, through the Uttar Shahbazpur border area of Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar, bypassing the vigilance of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
According to local sources, at approximately 5:30am on Wednesday, the BSF pushed the group into Bangladeshi territory.
Locals apprehended them and handed them over to the BGB.
The BGB has confirmed that all detainees are Bangladeshi nationals.
Among those detained are 13 men, 18 women and 13 children.
The detainees said that they had entered India illegally in search of work.
Recently, they were detained by Indian police.
They also claimed that several other individuals remain in Indian custody across the border and that preparations are underway to push them back into Bangladesh in a similar manner.
Rafiquddin Ahmed, chairman of Uttar Shahbazpur Union Parishad in Barlekha, said: “Early this morning, the BSF pushed back 44 individuals. Upon receiving information, the BGB detained them. All of them are confirmed to be Bangladeshi citizens.”
Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Hasan, Commanding Officer of 52-BGB, said: “We have verified the identities of the detainees, and they are all Bangladeshi nationals. They will be handed over to the local police station.”
Notably, May 6 and 7, the BSF similarly pushed back over a hundred individuals, of whom the BGB detained 59.
After confirming their identities, the BGB handed them over to the Barlekha police, who later released them into the custody of their families.
Following the incident, the BGB intensified security measures at the Barlekha border.
However, once again, the BSF has pushed back 44 people, evading BGB surveillance.
