Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has foiled an alleged attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push nine people, including women and children, into Bangladesh through the Sapahar border in Naogaon early Wednesday.
The group remains stranded in the zero line and no man’s land along the border after BGB personnel prevented them from entering Bangladeshi territory.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued by the 16 BGB Battalion in Naogaon on Wednesday morning.
According to the BGB, members of the Allenpur BSF camp under the 29 BSF Battalion attempted to push the nine individuals into Bangladesh at around 4am near border pillar 244/MP in the Adatala Border Outpost (BOP) area of Sapahar.
The group consists of three men, three women and three children.
After receiving information about the incident, a patrol team from the Adatala BOP rushed to the spot and blocked the alleged push-in attempt.
The nine individuals are currently staying in the border’s zero line area between the two countries.
BGB said additional personnel have been deployed in the area and surveillance has been strengthened with support from local residents to prevent any unauthorised entry.
Lt Col Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commander of the 16 BGB Battalion in Naogaon, said patrols had been intensified following the incident.
He said no one would be allowed to enter Bangladesh illegally and that efforts were underway to ensure those stranded at the border were taken back into Indian territory.
The latest incident follows similar alleged push-in attempts on 5 and 8 June, when the BSF tried to send 40 people into Bangladesh through the Porsha and Sapahar border areas of Naogaon.
Those attempts were also thwarted by BGB personnel with assistance from local residents, forcing the individuals to return to the Indian side, according to border authorities.
