Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday assured that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has maintained strict vigilance to ensure that not a single individual has been illegally “pushed in” across the country’s borders.
Speaking to journalists after a discussion and prize distribution ceremony organised by the Department of Narcotics Control at the Osmani Smriti Auditorium to mark the ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026’, the minister emphasised that arbitrary “push-ins” without proper verification do not constitute a valid international process.
Salahuddin said if India possesses a list of Bangladeshi nationals residing there illegally, it should be provided through diplomatic channels or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He assured that the Bangladesh government would systematically conduct nationality verification and facilitate their return through legal processes upon confirmation.
He further noted that the Bangladesh government lacks any documentary statistics or evidence to support claims made in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly regarding the “pushback” of 10,000 people.
Salahuddin commended the BGB for its exemplary role and high state of alert at every border. He noted that the BGB is successfully thwarting any attempts at infiltration or “push-ins” by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
He suggested that such activities at the border might be part of a political agenda following the recent elections in West Bengal.
Providing an update on the Shahid Osman Hadi murder case, Salahuddin revealed that three primary accused have been arrested by Indian law enforcement in Bongaon, West Bengal.
Following the initiation of judicial proceedings in India, the Bangladesh government has applied for their return under the existing extradition treaty.
The application includes all necessary documentation and legal warrants required to complete the pending investigation into the sensational murder. Bangladesh remains optimistic about the swift handover of the accused.
Regarding the status of former police chief Benazir Ahmed, the Home Minister informed that the UAE Federal Police notified the Bangladesh government via email after his arrest in Abu Dhabi.
Following a request to provide necessary documentation within 30 days, the Bangladesh government prepared all legal and institutional records within just three days. These documents were formally handed over to UAE authorities by the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi a few days ago.
Benazir Ahmed is currently in the custody of the UAE Federal Police, and Bangladesh is awaiting a final response and decision from the UAE government.
The press briefing was attended by the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir, and other senior ministry officials.
