Indian Border Security Force (BSF) continues to carry out “push-in” operations along the Bangladesh border, with the number of individuals forcibly sent across the border exceeding 1,000 in the month of May alone, according to officials from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
These instances persist despite repeated diplomatic protests from Dhaka to New Delhi.
In the last twenty-four hours, BSF pushed in 49 more people of which, 22 were through the Rema border of Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj. They were pushed in during the night through a place called Debrabari of Rema BOP under Habiganj Battalion (55 BGB).
13 more Bangladeshis were pushed in through the Motua border in Chhagalnaiya upazila of Feni without following due process and 14 more people through the Matiranga border in Khagrachhari district.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a schoolteacher from Assam and 13 others were reportedly pushed into Bangladesh through the Kurigram border.
In response, a case was filed at the Guwahati High Court in India on Wednesday, challenging the legality of the act.
The group, now detained by Bangladeshi authorities, claimed Indian citizenship.
Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say the continued push-ins have further strained already tense Bangladesh-India relations. According to BGB data, between May 7 and May 30, at least 1,053 individuals were pushed in from various border points, including Khagrachhari, Kurigram, Sylhet, Moulvibazar and several others.
The BGB says it has heightened vigilance and reinforced patrols in sensitive areas, however, the BSF continues with its push-in activities despite flag meetings and formal protests.
On May 25 alone, 153 people were pushed in via the Sylhet and Moulvibazar borders.
BBC Bangla has reported alarming instances of Indian border forces indiscriminately “pushing in” individuals into Bangladeshi territory while labeling them as “illegal migrants.”
Investigations reveal that over a thousand individuals have been forcibly expelled through various border points in May alone, despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Dhaka and New Delhi over the practice.
Border guards confirm receiving groups of exhausted, often traumatised individuals — many without documentation — near the frontier areas.
Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, home adviser to the interim government, reiterated that “push-in” or “push-back” operations are illegal under international law. “Bangladesh does not engage in such practices. We believe in diplomatic resolution,” he said during a press briefing in Satkhira recently.
Bangladesh had formally raised the issue through a letter from the MoFA and those diplomatic engagements led by Foreign Adviser Towhid Hossain and National Security Adviser Khondaker Khalilur Rahman are ongoing to address this issue, added Chowdhury.
Meanwhile, hundreds of those pushed in — men, women and children — are now in makeshift tents and shelters, many of them without belongings and visibly anxious about their future. Local officials confirmed that those apprehended at the border identified themselves as Indian citizens.
According to BGB records, push-ins this month have been reported through 17 different districts. Moulvibazar alone saw 331 people pushed in, followed by Khagrachhari (111), Sylhet (103) and Kurigram (84).
In a particularly concerning case, 78 individuals were pushed through remote Sundarbans terrain via Mandarbaria area.
Speaking to The Times of Bangladesh, BGB spokesperson Shariful Islam said, “We are maintaining maximum alert, but BSF’s actions continue to violate basic human rights and undermine border protocols.”
Meanwhile, as of Friday afternoon, India’s BSF pushed in 49 more people of which, 22 were through the Rema border of Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj.
They were pushed in during the night through a place called Debrabari of Rema BOP under Habiganj Battalion (55 BGB).
Thirteen Bangladeshis were pushed in through the Motua border in Chhagalnaiya upazila of Feni without following due process and 14 more people through the Matiranga border in Khagrachhari district.
As of early Friday, an additional 14 individuals were reportedly pushed into Khagrachhari through the Achalong border in Matiranga upazila.
District Commissioner Md Iftekharul Islam Khandaker confirmed that the group includes women, men, and children.
Officials say the issue is now being monitored at the highest levels in Dhaka, with fresh diplomatic démarches expected soon.