Three youths ‘disappear’ after 17 days in Bangladesh-India border no-man's land

Border guards say they have not seen the trio since dawn and do not know where they have gone

The whereabouts of three young men who had been stranded in no-man's land along the Kurigram border for 17 days after an alleged push-in attempt by India's Border Security Force (BSF) are now unknown.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) says it has not seen them since early on Wednesday and remains on alert in the area.

Lt Col Hasanur Rahman, commander of Jamalpur-35 BGB Battalion, said the three could no longer be seen from the Bangladesh side.

He said the BGB had been unable to determine where they had gone or how they left.

On Jun 14, the BSF allegedly tried to push six people through the Goytapara border and another three through the Bhundarchar border in Rowmari Upazila.

The BGB blocked the move, foiling the attempt.

Ruhul, a ward member of Rowmari Sadar Union, said he went to check on the three at the Bhundarchar border in the morning but found no trace of them.

He said the stretch now appeared empty and no BSF patrols were visible there either.