21 more pushed in through Sylhet border

Twenty-one Bangladeshi citizens were detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) yesterday after they were pushed into Bangladesh from India through the Dona border in Sylhet's Kanaighat upazila.

The detainees include 12 men, four women, and five children, confirmed Lt Col Md Zubayer Anwar, commanding officer of BGB's Zakiganj Battalion (19 BGB).

"One of our patrol teams found them divided into two groups near the border at around 6:00am," he said.

"During interrogation, the detainees informed us that they were staying in India illegally. Later, they were caught and pushed into Bangladesh," he added.

They are from Kurigram, Natore, and Rajshahi; after initial verification of their identities, they were handed over to the Kanaighat Police Station, the BGB official added.

Contacted, Kanaighat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Awal said, "The detainees will be handed over to their relatives after figuring out their detailed identities and addresses."

Earlier on May 14, some 16 Bangladeshis were similarly pushed back through the same border and later handed over to their relatives after police confirmed their identities.

According to BGB Headquarters, a total of 528 people have so far been pushed into Bangladesh since May 7. Of them, 450 were detained by the BGB and 78 by the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

Meanwhile, in Kurigram, 22 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, who were detained by India's Border Security Force (BSF) for staying there illegally, were formally handed over to BGB at Balatari border early yesterday.

The handover followed a flag meeting between the two border forces at 1:30am near pillar 932 along the Balatari border in Phulbari upazila.

The Indian side was led by Assistant Commandant SHL Simti of the BSF Battalion-3, while Major Hasnain, second-in-command of the BGB Battalion-15 in Lalmonirhat, represented Bangladesh.

Following verification of their identities, the 24 detainees -- comprising eight men, eight women, and eight children--were officially repatriated and later handed over to their families through local representatives.

Nayek Subedar Saidur Rahman said the BSF had initially gathered a group of people at the Karola camp, as they had been working in India without legal permits.

Upon hearing the information, Lt Col Mehedi Imam, commander of the Lalmonirhat BGB battalion, issued a strong message to the BSF, saying that no one would be allowed to enter Bangladesh without proper verification of citizenship.

In response, the BSF submitted a list of 24 individuals believed to be Bangladeshi nationals. After their identities were confirmed, a flag meeting was arranged, and the group was accepted and subsequently reunited with their families.

Shahidul Islam, brother of one of the returnees, said, "My brother went to Delhi in search of work 20 years ago. On his way back, he was detained by the BSF. We are grateful to the BGB for their efforts in bringing him and three of his family members back."

Speaking to The Daily Star, Major Hasnain of the BGB 15 Battalion said, "The repatriation was carried out through proper procedures and in cooperation with local authorities."

[Our correspondents from Sylhet and Lalmonirhat contributed to the report.]