BGB foils 3 push-in attempts

Border Guard Bangladesh yesterday claimed that it thwarted three alleged attempts by India’s Border Security Force to push 22 people into Bangladesh in three districts.

Push-ins of six people were prevented in Jhenaidah, nine in Dinajpur, and seven in Feni, according to BGB.

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A press release of BGB 58 Battalion in Jhenaidah’s Maheshpur said the BSF members attempted to push six individuals, including four men and two women, into Bangladesh through a gate under the jurisdiction of the Samanta Border Outpost (BOP) around 5:10am yesterday.

A BGB patrol detected the attempt before the individuals could enter Bangladesh and prevented their entry, the release said.

BGB 58 Battalion Commanding Officer Lt Col Md Rafiqul Alam said the force remains on maximum alert to ensure border security, prevent push-ins and illegal infiltration, and maintain peace and order in the border areas.

In Dinajpur, the BGB said it foiled an attempt by BSF to push nine people into Bangladesh through the Khiar Mamudpur border in Birampur upazila yesterday.

A BGB patrol team noticed the incident around 4:30am and prevented the attempt, said Saiful Islam, officer-in-charge of Birampur Police Station.

The group includes eight women and a transgender person, he said

Around 7:00am, BSF personnel made another attempt to push the nine into Bangladesh, resulting in heated exchanges between BSF personnel and BGB members, the OC told The Daily Star.

Maj Ibrahim Assad, second-in-command of BGB 20 Battalion in Joypurhat, confirmed the incident.

A BGB member of Bhaigar Border Out Post, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the nine were seen staying under a bamboo grove on the Indian side.

In Feni, the BGB said it foiled an attempt by the BSF to push seven people into Bangladesh in the Durgapur border area under Parshuram upazila early yesterday.

The group had six women and a child.

A press release of the BGB 4 Battalion said the BSF members gathered the seven around 2:30am.

On information, BGB members went to the spot and resisted the attempt.

[Our correspondents from Jhenaidah, Thakurgaon and Feni contributed to the report.]