Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has rescued four members of a family, including two children, who were stranded for 96 hours in the no man’s land of the Roumari border following a “push-in” attempt by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
The rescued individuals-Belal Hossain, 28, his wife Sumi Akter, 26, and their children Faima (5 months) and Fatema Akter, 4, were handed over to Roumari Police Station late Wednesday night. However, five other citizens remain stranded at the zero line in dire conditions.
According to the sources, the crisis began at dawn on Sunday when BSF members from the Jhalorchar camp in Assam’s South Salmara-Mankachar district attempted to illegally push six people, including a woman and two children, into Bangladesh near international pillar 1060 (sub-pillar 1-S). Resistance from the BGB and local residents left the group stuck on the Indian side of the no man’s land.
On the same night, BSF members from the Mankachar camp attempted to push three more youths into Bangladesh through the Vanduchar area near pillar 1066. BGB’s heightened vigilance also prevented their entry, resulting in a total of nine individuals being left under the open sky.
The situation became critical as the two children fell seriously ill due to exposure. Following consistent media reports on their humanitarian plight, senior authorities from the BGB and BSF took notice. A joint flag meeting was held at 11:30pm on Wednesday, where it was decided to remove the family of four on humanitarian grounds.
Local Union Parishad (UP) member Sona Mia confirmed that while the family was moved, the remaining five people are still living in a highly vulnerable state amidst rain and thunderstorms.
Roumari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Kawser Ali confirmed the handover on Thursday. He said after completing legal procedures and identity verification, the family was handed over to Belal Hossain’s mother that same night.
