A woman allegedly pushed into Bangladesh by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) through the Tetulbaria border in Meherpur’s Gangni upazila is now living in uncertainty, with authorities yet to verify her identity or locate her family.
Identified as Rozina Khatun Romana, the woman has been moving between villages in Gangni for the past several days, relying on local residents for food and temporary shelter.
While six others involved in the same border incident on 6 June have since left for their destinations, Rozina remains stranded as officials continue efforts to confirm her background and nationality.
On Saturday, locals saw Rozina wandering in areas of Kazipur and Bamundi unions. Residents said she sometimes speaks normally but at other times appears confused and distressed, raising concerns about her safety and mental well-being.
Local sources said tensions arose at the Tetulbaria border on 6 June when the BSF allegedly attempted to push six people, including women and children, into Bangladesh near border pillar 140/5-S.
The attempt was reportedly stopped by members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local villagers, leaving the group stranded in no man’s land for a period of time.
However, residents said another woman entered Bangladesh through a separate point near sub-pillar 4-S of the same border area. She was later identified as Rozina.
After entering Bangladesh, Rozina reportedly took shelter in a mango orchard before moving through different parts of Gangni.
She is currently staying at a house in Pirtala village under Kazipur Union, where locals have been supporting her on humanitarian grounds.
Rozina told residents that she is from Patiya in Chattogram and identified her parents as Abdul Khalek and Fatema, while naming her brother as Abdur Rahman. She also claimed that she had spent nearly three years in an
Indian prison before being sent to Bangladesh on 6 June. None of the information has been independently verified.
Local residents expressed concern over her situation. Tagar Khatun of Pirtala village said they had been providing her with food but could not support her indefinitely.
“She has been here for five or six days. We learned from her that she came from India. We are helping her for humanitarian reasons, but we do not have the resources to keep her here permanently,” she said.
Gangni Upazila Social Services Officer Arshad Ali said preliminary information about Rozina’s identity had been collected and would be verified after government offices resume operations.
“If her identity is confirmed, we will contact her family. Otherwise, arrangements will be made to place her in a government rehabilitation centre,” he said.
Kazipur Union Parishad Chairman Alam Hossain said authorities were monitoring her situation and trying to trace her family based on the information she provided.
Gangni Upazila Nirbahi Officer Anwar Hossain said the administration was investigating the matter.
“First, we need to establish whether Rozina is a Bangladeshi or Indian national and how she arrived here,” he said, adding that steps would be taken to ensure her safety and reunite her with her family if her identity is confirmed.
