The Border Security Force (BSF) has taken back 12 people, including women and children, who were earlier pushed into the zero line at Pragpur border in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia, after a flag meeting held three days later.
The handover took place after a flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF on Monday at 11am in the area adjacent to border pillar 148/3-S of Pragpur border.
The matter was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Kamal Rony, commanding officer of Kushtia 47 BGB.
Sources said a six to eight-member BGB delegation, led by Deputy Commander Nurul Huda of Kushtia 47 BGB, took part in the meeting. On the other side, a BSF delegation led by Raninagar Company Commander Assistant Commandant Sunil Kumar Yadav also attended with an equal number of members.
BGB sources said BSF attempted to push in the 12 people, including women, men and children, into Bangladesh at around 5:30am on Friday. Locals later assisted BGB in identifying and detaining them.
A flag meeting was initially scheduled the same afternoon, but it could not be held due to BSF non-cooperation.
Another flag meeting took place on Saturday at 9:30am near border pillar 150/3-S in Bilgatua border area. However, no final decision was reached in that meeting either. As a result, the 12 people remained stranded at the zero line.
During the meetings, BSF denied allegations of pushing them into Bangladesh and refused to take custody of the stranded individuals. After BGB lodged formal protests, BSF sought time to investigate and decide the matter.
Among the affected people were Ujir Ali, 50, his wife Joynur Begum, 35, their son Shihad, 17, Injamul, 8, and two-and-a-half-year-old child Samad. Members of Rafiqul Gazi’s family and four members of Afroza Khatun’s family were also in the group.
Prolonged exposure to the open sky, mosquito infestation, lack of bathing facilities for nearly two weeks, and extreme heat while staying in a jute field left all 12 people ill, sources said.
Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Kamal Rony said the flag meeting between BGB and BSF was held peacefully. He said, according to the decision, the 12 people were taken back by BSF into their custody.
He added that BGB remains on high alert for border security and will take necessary steps in matters related to national interests.
