BGB thwarts BSF’s efforts to ‘push-in’ dozens through Lalmonirhat, Naogaon

50 people, whom the BSF allegedly tried to push-in, are currently inside the Indian territory

Amid reports of infiltration efforts, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has claimed to have blocked multiple attempts allegedly by its Indian counterpart to “push-in” 50 people through Lalmonirhat and Naogaon.

The attempts in Lalmonirhat were reportedly made nearly an hour before dawn on Friday and those in Naogaon in the morning.

In a press statement on Friday, the paramilitary force said the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) “tried to push” 33 people through the border areas of Hatibandha, Patgram and Aditmari Upazilas early in the morning.

The BGB Lalmonirhat-15 Battalion said the 33 people are currently inside Indian territory near the border.

The BGB said the BSF had tried to push 11 people into Bangladesh through the border area under the Barakhata BOP (border outpost) in Hatibandha Upazila, 10 others through the Paishattibari BOP area in Patgram Upazila, and another 12 through the Durgapur Dighaltari border area in Aditmari Upazila.

Several BGB patrol teams quickly took up positions at the relevant border points based on a tip-off.

With the help of locals, the BGB took strict preventive measures at the borders and foiled the “push-in” attempts, says the statement.

The BGB has intensified surveillance to block such efforts by the BSF, it says, adding that the situation is being monitored round the clock.

Nayek Subedar Mizanur Rahman, BGB camp commander at the Paishattibari BOP, told bdnews24.com: “Around 4:20am, members of the Mahanadi camp of India’s 98th BSF Battalion tried to forcefully push 10 people through the area near the border pillar No. 846.

“The infiltration attempt was foiled as our patrol team was alert on the border. They are currently 50 yards inside India from the zero line,” he said.

In Naogaon, the BGB said the “push-in” efforts were made along the Hapaniya border area of Sapahar Upazila around 7:30am.

The 17 people, including women and children, who were to be pushed in were left on Indian territory near the zero line.

No one will be allowed to enter Bangladesh illegally, said Naogaon-16 BGB Battalion chief Lt Col Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum.

According to the BGB, members of India's 88 BSF Battalion’s Pannachhara Camp had tried to “push-in” the 17 people Bangladesh through the 238/MP border pillar on the Hapania border.

As the matter was reported, a BGB patrol team of the Hapania BOP rushed to the scene and noticed the 17 people inside the Indian boundary.

The BGB said: "Patrols have been increased in that area. The BSF has been asked to take back 17 people who are staying on the zero line.”

He said the BSF had refused to take them back.