A total of 28 Bangladeshi nationals were pushed back by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) through the Durgapur border in Netrakona and Bakshiganj border in Jamalpur between late Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
At around 2am on Thursday, the BSF pushed 21 people across the Bijoypur border in Netrakona’s Durgapur upazila. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) captured them shortly after their entry. Earlier, on June 3, BSF had similarly pushed back 32 individuals through the same border.
According to BGB sources, among the 21 people detained, 19 identified themselves as hijra and two as male.
During initial questioning, they said they hailed from various districts, including Narail, Satkhira, Brahmanbaria, Tangail, Jamalpur, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Moulvibazar, Chattogram, and Dhaka.
Lieutenant Colonel SM Kamruzzaman, commander of the 31 BGB Battalion in Netrakona, confirmed the incident over the phone on Thursday morning. He said, “Around 2am last night, BSF pushed in 21 individuals through the Bijoypur border.
Their identities have been verified. They had travelled to India six months to 12 years ago. Despite lacking valid travel documents, BSF repatriated them. They are currently in custody at the Bijoypur BGB camp and will be handed over to the police.”
Meanwhile, BSF pushed back another seven individuals through pillar no. 1083 of the Dhanua Kamalpur border in Bakshiganj upazila of Jamalpur on Thursday morning. Local residents apprehended the group upon entry and handed them over to the police.
Those detained said they were from Bagerhat, Faridpur, Khulna, and Barguna districts. Local sources confirmed that four women and three men had crossed into Bangladesh through the border area early in the morning.
Motaleb Mia, a local ward member of Dhanua Kamalpur Union Parishad, said, “We received information that BSF was pushing some individuals into our area. We intercepted them immediately after they crossed and later handed them over to the police.”
Bakshiganj Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khandaker Shaker Ahmed confirmed the detention and said legal procedures are currently underway.