Indian national alleges BSF forced her into Bangladesh

India's Border Security Force (BSF) has allegedly forced an Indian woman across the border into Bangladesh.

The woman, identified as Shahida Fakir, is currently staying at the home of her maternal uncle, Abul Bashar, and his wife, Arifa, in Bhadiyali village under Sonabaria Union in Kalaroa upazila of Satkhira.

Shahida Fakir is the daughter of Ainuddin Gazi of Gobindapur village under Berachapa police station in Basirhat subdivision of North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.

According to Shahida, she had been living with her family in Mumbai for the past 20 years.

On the night of 18–19 July, while returning from a local market after purchasing vegetables and bread, she was allegedly detained by a group of four to five individuals identifying themselves as officers of the Indian Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 

She said they confiscated her mobile phone and refused to examine her Indian identity documents despite her informing them that she possessed all the necessary papers.

She further alleged that she was denied any opportunity to contact her family and was taken directly to the Chembur Detention Camp in Mumbai, where she was held for four days. 

Although her relatives later arrived with her identity documents and other official records, the authorities allegedly declined to consider them.

She was subsequently flown to the Assam border and, according to her account, forcibly pushed across the frontier into Bangladesh.

Shahida claimed that she was made to cross the border in a group of five to six people but became separated from the others.

While in an ill state, she eventually reached the Benapole area in Jashore. "My two children, aged 23 and 14, are in India. I am a permanent resident of Gobindapur village in Basirhat subdivision, India. I want to return to my country and reunite with my children," she said.

Her maternal uncle, Abul Bashar, said Shahida is currently staying at his house. 

"Her mother was born in Ramchandrapur village under Langaljhara Union in Kalaroa, but Shahida herself was born in India. She was allegedly pushed into Bangladesh through the Feni border opposite Assam. Later, after reaching Benapole, I brought her to my home. She is my niece and an Indian citizen by birth. This is her first visit to Bangladesh, following her alleged pushback by the BSF," he said.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) HM Shahin of Kalaroa Police Station said he was not yet aware of the matter.

"I am not aware of the incident at this moment. I will look into it and be able to provide details after verifying the facts," he said.