BSF pushes 172 people thru Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Meherpur borders
According to BGB sources, 79 people were pushed in through Shahbazpur border in Baralekha, while 42 and 32 people were pushed in through Pallatal and Nayagram border areas, respectively, in Beanibazar
The Border Security Force (BSF) of India has forcibly pushed 172 more people into Bangladesh through Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Meherpur borders in the early hours of today (25 May), labelling them as "Bangladeshi".
According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources, 79 people were pushed in through Shahbazpur border in Baralekha of Moulvibazar, while 42 and 32 people were pushed in through Pallatal and Nayagram border areas, respectively, in Beanibazar of Sylhet and 19 people through Sonapur-Majpara border of Meherpur.
Members of the BGB camps in the respective areas detained 153 people to check their identities. Mujibnagar police detained 19 others who were pushed in through the Meherpur border and took them to the police station.
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Lt Col Mehedi Hasan, commander of BGB 52nd Batallion, said, "BGB has strengthened the security and patrolling at the border due to the ongoing situation. While patrolling the border around 2:30am today, BGB members saw some people entering Bangladesh through the borders."
"These people have been detained right after entering Bangladesh. They told the BGB that they were living in India illegally. They are still being questioned, and BGB is trying to know their identities," Mehedi said.
According to the BGB, BSF pushed a total of 190 people through various border points in Sylhet alone in the last 10 days.
BSF forced 16 people through the Kanaighat border of Sylhet on 14 May, while they forcibly sent another 21 people through the same border point on 24 May, BGB data showed.
According to diplomatic sources, the foreign ministry of Bangladesh is preparing to hold talks with India on this matter.
Besides, patrolling at the border is also being tightened, sources said.
2 Bangladeshis injured in BSF firing at Brahmanbaria border
Two Bangladeshi youths were injured after the BSF of India opened fire near the Khadla border in Brahmanbaria.
The incident occurred today in the Shyamnagar area on the Indian side of the border, Lieutenant Colonel Md Ziaur Rahman, commander of BGB's 60th battalion, said.
According to sources at the BGB and local residents, several youths from Shyampur, including Robiul Islam, and Azad Hossain, reportedly crossed into Indian territory around 1:30am. BSF members patrolling the area fired rubber bullets at the group, injuring two of them.
Locals later rescued the wounded and took them to a hospital for treatment.
Investigations are underway to determine the exact reason behind the border crossing, said Lt Col Md Ziaur.
