10 persons including three children, two women and five men have been passing the day under the open sky near the Zero Line of the Indian border for three consecutive days after Pusheen's attempt at Barabari border in Panchgarh. Although they suffered from sun, rain and starvation, their fate was not decided.
Meanwhile, tension flared on Sunday (June 7) as BGB and BSF faced each other along the border.
The Indian Border Guard Force (BSF) tried to push the 10 people into Bangladesh through the Barabari border of Harivasa Union of Panchagarh Sadar Upazila in the early hours of Friday (June 5). However, they could not enter Bangladesh in the face of BGB obstacles. Since then they have been staying close to the Zero Line on the Indian side of the border.
Going to the border area on Sunday (June 7) afternoon, it was seen that they are staying in the open field without any shelter. He is living an inhumane life by enduring the sun and rain for three consecutive days. Suffering increased as rainwater caused waterlogging in various parts of the field. Especially children and women are suffering. Locals said that they are suffering from food shortage due to being stuck for a long time.
According to border sources, on Sunday (June 7) around noon, the BSF again tried to push the 10 people towards Bangladesh. At that time, BGB protested strongly and stopped them. At one point the two forces moved into a face-to-face position. Later the situation calmed down when the BSF retreated. BGB has deployed additional personnel at the border to deal with any possible situation.
BGB Ghagra Company Commander Subedar Azad said, “BGB is on alert on the border. We are ready to face any situation.”
A flag meeting was held between the BGB and BSF at the company commander level on Friday (June 5) and at the battalion commander level on Saturday (June 6) but no resolution was reached.
After the battalion commander level meeting, Nilphamari 56 BGB battalion commander Lt. Col. Sirajul Islam told reporters, “We will never accept such illegal infiltration. If they are Bangladeshi citizens, then they should be handed over due process in accordance with international law. We will not accept them if they are pushed to the border.”
He also said that the BSFO has refused to take the detained people back to them. As a result, the matter was not resolved.
