BSF pushes 80 people into Bangladesh thru Cumilla, Lalmonirhat, Moulvibazar, Feni borders

India's Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly pushed at least 80 people – including women and children – into Bangladesh through border points in Moulvibazar, Feni, Cumilla and Lalmonirhat, according to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local police.

Around 4am today (22 May), 13 Bangladeshi nationals – three men, three women, and seven children – were pushed across the Golabari border in Cumilla Sadar upazila.

Lt Col Mir Ali Ejaz, commander of BGB Battalion-10, confirmed the incident, saying a patrol team from BGB-60 detained the group shortly after they crossed into Bangladeshi territory. "They are currently in BGB custody and will be handed over to the district administration after verification," he said.

7 thru Moulvibazar

This morning,  BSF also pushed seven people — two men, two women and three children — into the country through the Muraichhara border in the district's Kulaura upazila

Lt Col ASM Zakaria, commandant of the BGB-46 Battalion, said the BSF pushed them around 8am.

Being informed, the BGB members held them and handed over to police for legal action, he said.   

Kulaura Police Station OC Md Golam Afsar said legal action would be taken in this regard accordingly.

21 thru Lalmonirhat

On Wednesday night, BSF pushed in 21 more individuals – seven women and four children – through the Dhabalsuti Gatiarvita border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat.

Nayek Subedar Abdul Matin, commander of the Dhanlasuti BOP under BGB-61 Battalion, confirmed the handover of the group to police.

Patgram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman said, "We are working with the BGB to verify their identities and take appropriate legal action."

39 thru Feni

Meanwhile, the BSF pushed 39 people into Feni through Sonagazi, Fulgazi and Chhagalnaiya borders from 12:30am to 6am on Thursday, UNB reports, quoting Lt Col Md Mosharraf Hossain, commandant of the BGB-4 Battalion in Feni.

Citing Officer-in-charge (OC) of Fulgazi police station Mohamad Lutfor Rahman, the report also states that the police took 27 people into their custody from the BGB and brought it to the notice of the higher authorities.

Chhagalnaiya OC Nazrul Islam said 12 detainees were handed over to them through Upazila Nirbahi Officer by BGB.

Push-ins rise

According to media reports, at least 318 individuals were reportedly pushed into Bangladesh across five districts between 4 and 15 May. These include 10 through Meherpur on 4 May; 66 and 78 through Khagrachhari and Satkhira on 7 May; 148 through Moulvibazar on 7, 8, 14, and 15 May; and 16 through Sylhet on 14 May.

Local sources in Singaerbil union of Khagrachhari's Matiranga upazila reported another attempted push-in on 16 May, saying BSF had gathered people along the border, but the move was thwarted with local resistance.

BGB and police continue to investigate the latest cases and are verifying the identities of those pushed in.