Local residents have detained an Indian national at Satmara border in Panchagarh Sadar Upazila after he entered Bangladeshi territory.
This action was taken in retaliation following the detention of an elderly Bangladeshi man by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) earlier this week.
The detained Indian citizen has been identified as 30-year-old Dipankar Gop from Chaulhati Tashanpara area under Rajganj Police Station in Jalpaiguri district, India.
According to local residents, Dipankar entered the Bangladeshi side of the border on Saturday morning after crossing the barbed-wire fence. He had reportedly arrived earlier that morning to work in a tea garden located on the other side of the fence.
Upon entering Bangladesh, he was apprehended by locals and brought to Birajot area. He is currently being held in the joint custody of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the police, and local residents.
This incident follows the detention of Md Tamij Uddin, 78, a resident of Birajot area in Satmara Union. On Wednesday morning, Tamij left his house to search for a lost cow. Locals reported that he was detained by BSF after he went near the barbed-wire border fence.
Family members and local residents explained that Tamij is an elderly man who suffers from hearing impairment and has difficulty walking.
“My father did nothing wrong, he only went out to look for a cow,” said Tamij Uddin’s son, Azahar.
“He is elderly, cannot hear properly, and cannot walk well. I do not know how or why this happened, but I want my father returned. If they do not return my father, the Indian national should not be sent back. Once they return my father, we will hand over this man,” he added.
BGB has not yet issued any official statement regarding the situation. However, sources indicate that a border flag meeting is scheduled to be held between BGB and BSF to discuss the repatriation of Tamij Uddin and return of Indian citizen Dipankar Gop.
