India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has returned 14 Bangladeshi nationals, including four children, who were detained at the Hakimpur border in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
The individuals were handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Sunday evening through a flag meeting at Zero Point of the Taluigachha border in Satkhira Sadar upazila. Later that night, around 9:00pm, they were taken to Satkhira Sadar Police Station for further procedures.
According to source, the group was detained by the BSF on Saturday afternoon at Hakimpur checkpoint under Bashirhat subdivision of North 24 Parganas for illegally crossing the border without valid travel documents.
A formal flag meeting was held between the BSF’s Amudia Company Commander Dibajyoti Dolly and BGB’s Taluigachha BOP Commander Nayeb Subedar Abul Kashem. Following the meeting, the 14 individuals including five women and five men were officially repatriated to Bangladesh.
One of the returnees, Mizanur Rahman Sheikh, said that they had crossed into India without passports in search of employment and had been living there for several years.
“We decided to return home due to the deteriorating situation. But while trying to cross back, the BSF detained us,” he said.
Authorities are currently verifying their identities and backgrounds before taking further action.
