BSF takes back 10 stranded at border for 69 hours as alleged push-in bid foiled

Ten people, including women and children, who had been stranded on the zero line along the Boro Bari-Pradhanpara border in Panchagarh Sadar upazila following an alleged push-in attempt, were taken back by India's Border Security Force (BSF) after nearly 69 hours in no-man's land.

According to Prothom Alo, the BSF removed the group at around 2:40am today (8 June) after switching off security lights along the border. 

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) confirmed that the individuals were escorted back into Indian territory.

The group had reportedly been stranded since early Friday when the BSF allegedly attempted to push them into Bangladesh through the border. 

However, strict vigilance by the BGB prevented their entry, forcing them to remain in a narrow strip of agricultural land along the zero line.

For more than 69 hours, from around 5am on Friday until 2:40am today, neither country allowed the group to enter its territory. 

As a result, they endured severe hardship while remaining exposed to rain, thunderstorms and intense heat. 

The group consisted of five men, two women, and three children.

Efforts to resolve the situation through bilateral discussions yielded no result.

On Saturday afternoon, commanders of Bangladesh's Nilphamari 56 BGB Battalion and India's 93 BSF Battalion held a flag meeting at the Boro Bari-Pradhanpara border.

A separate company commander-level meeting between the BGB's Boro Bari Border Outpost and the BSF's Sakati Camp had also taken place on Friday. 

However, both rounds of talks ended without a resolution.

Hasibul Islam, a member of Ward No 7 of Haribhasha Union, told Prothom Alo, "It was raining last night. The 10 people, including women and children, were sitting on the zero line in the rain. Later, after 2:30am, while it was still drizzling, BSF personnel arrived and took them back to their side. 

"It was heartbreaking to see the women and children suffering there in the sun and rain for three days. Whenever I sat down to eat at home, the faces of those children came to mind. I could barely eat properly. It is good that they have been taken away. People living in the border area also feel relieved."

Speaking to Prothom Alo this morning, Lieutenant Colonel Md Sirajul Islam, commanding officer of Nilphamari 56 BGB Battalion, said the BSF switched off its security lights before taking back the 10 people, including women and children, from the zero line at around 2:40am.

He added that the BGB has maintained strict surveillance along the border and remains vigilant to prevent any future push-in attempts.