S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Concerns are growing over the continued push-ins on the Sylhet border. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has continued to push-ins one after another, showing the thumbs up to international law and human rights.
Despite the protests and alert stance of the Bangladeshi Border Security Force (BGB), the push-ins have not stopped.
In the last 24 hours, the BSF has pushed 40 more people through the Sylhet border.
Of these, 21 people were detained while infiltrating through the Moterbal border area of Madhabpur union in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar at 8:45 am on Monday (May 26).
Among those detained, 7 men, 6 women and 8 children are among them. The BGB has confirmed that the detainees are Bangladeshi citizens.
Meanwhile, from late Sunday night to Monday morning, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained 19 more people from the Kalenga border in Chunarughat.
The BGB claims that the BSF gathered them at their own border, opened a barbed wire gate and pushed these women, men and children into Bangladesh.
Among the detainees are 5 children, 8 women and 6 men. They are all citizens of Bangladesh and residents of Kurigram.
The BGB has informed that they will be handed over to the local administration and police for handover to their families. Havildar Zakaria of the BGB Kalenga camp confirmed this information on Monday afternoon.
However, the BGB authorities themselves are concerned that in addition to Bangladeshi citizens, Ruhingas and Indians will be pushed in this push-in activity.
Although they have said that the BGB is handling the situation with utmost caution in this regard. But for humanitarian reasons, the BGB cannot push anyone back after being pushed in.
It has been learned that the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) is pushing in (forcibly entering) hundreds of people one after another through the Sylhet border.
From May 8 to 26 of this month, 312 people were pushed in 18 days. These push-ins are happening through the Moulvibazar and Sylhet borders.
The issue has become a new cause for concern. In this situation, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has increased vigilance and activity along the Sylhet border. Still, the push-ins are not stopping.
Earlier, on Sunday (May 25), the BSF pushed in a large-scale push-in, i.e. a maximum of 153 people, through the Sylhet and Moulvibazar borders. BGB sources confirmed that their homes are in different districts of the country.
It has been learned that the push-in took place from late night of last Saturday and Sunday.
However, the BGB detained them as soon as they entered Bangladesh. Of these, 79 were detained at the Latu BOP camp in Barlekhar, 42 at the Pallathol BOP camp and 32 at the Nayagram BOP camp.
The BGB said that they were sent to Bangladesh through dense jungles and beels. BGB 52 Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Mehedi Hasan confirmed the matter.
Push-back or push-in at the border is a method where captured persons are taken to the border and pushed to the border of another country. What is push-back from India’s side is push-in in Bangladesh’s eyes.
This process has no legal recognition in India. But recently hundreds of Bangladeshis are being forcibly brought to the border in this way.
It is learned that due to the complicated border situation, a night curfew has been imposed in three districts including East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, India.
A curfew has been imposed from 8 pm to 6 am and strict restrictions have been imposed in the area up to 500 meters from the zero line of the border.
It also prohibits illegal infiltration, smuggling, cattle crossing, carrying weapons or dangerous objects.
