The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has once again pushed 14 individuals into Bangladesh through the Kulaura border in Moulvibazar, evading the vigilance of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Later, a patrol team from the Muraichhara camp under the Sreemangal-based 46 BGB Battalion detained them with the help of locals.
The push-in took place early Thursday morning. BGB subsequently verified their identities, confirming that all of them are residents of Kurigram district in Bangladesh.
According to sources from BGB, police, and locals, sometime before dawn on Thursday, BSF opened the barbed-wire gate near the Kukijhuri area of the Muraichhara border and pushed in a group of 14 people, including four men, four children, and six women.
The BGB patrol detained them later in the morning after spotting them moving suspiciously in the border area and brought them to the Muraichhara camp.
The individuals are Md Mofizul Islam, 45, of Nageshwari upazila, Kurigram; his wife, Mallika, 40, daughter, Mim, 19, and infant son, Mumin, 4 months; Jarina Khatun, 75, of Phulbari upazila; Jalil Mia, 45, his wife, Kajoli, 40, their son, Habib, 22, Isha Mia Ali, 20, and Kajol, 11; Afsana, 20, daughter of the deceased Anwarul from the same area; Isha Mia’s wife, Alfina, 18; Shahina, 7, daughter of Shahin Mia; and Habib’s one-year-old son, Halim.
During interrogation, the detainees said they had illegally crossed into India via the border and had been working at a brick kiln in Rajasthan. On Wednesday, Indian police arrested them and handed them over to BSF, who then pushed them into Bangladesh later that night.
Officer-in-Charge of Kulaura police station, Md Golam Afsar, said: “We are aware of the push-in of 14 people at the border. Their identities have been confirmed — all are Bangladeshi citizens. They are currently in BGB custody, and necessary procedures are underway.”
Lt Col ASM Zakaria, commander of the 46 BGB Battalion in Sreemangal, also confirmed the detention of the 14 individuals.
