BSF takes back 12 migrants after three-day standoff at Kushtia zero line

Four children and four women were among those pushed in, an earlier report says

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has taken back 12 people who were stranded at the zero line following an attempted “push-in” at the Kushtia's Daulatpur border.

The move came around 10:30am on Monday after a flag meeting between the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh at the Pragpur border, said BGB’s Lt Col Rashed Kamal Rony, commander of Kushtia-47 BGB.

The meeting was attended by a BGB delegation led by Assistant Director Nurul Huda and a BSF team led by Company Commander AC Sunil Kumar Yadav of the Raninagar camp.

The BGB said the 12 people, including four children and as many women, were pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF in the early hours of Friday.

After locals noticed the matter and reported it to the BGB, members of its Pragpur BGB camp sent the 12 people to the zero line adjacent to the 148/3-S pillar of the Pragpur border.

The two border forces held a meeting on Saturday morning but failed to reach a consensus.

Meanwhile, the 12 people spent 78 hours under the open sky amid growing uncertainty.

Lt Col Rony said they were handed over to the BSF through the second flag meeting with the BSF at 10:30am on Monday.

Later, the BSF took the 12 people into their custody and transported them back into the Indian territory.

Situation along the border has since been normal.