Kushtia Correspondent – A group of 12 individuals, including women and children, have been stranded under the open sky for the past three days at the Pragpur border in Daulatpur Upazila, Kushtia.
A decision regarding their fate remains hanging due to the uncompromising stances of both the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF).
Currently, the group is staying in a jute field inside Indian territory, very close to the zero line. Surrounded by barbed-wire fencing, they are enduring scorching heat during the day and living in constant fear of snakes and insects. The stranded group includes four women and four children.
According to BGB and local sources, the BSF attempted to push them into Bangladesh through India’s Charmeghna border area in the early hours of last Friday.
When the BGB intercepted the attempt, the group became trapped in the no-man’s-land.
Later on Saturday morning, around 9:30 AM, a flag meeting was held between the BGB and BSF near sub-piller 150-3S of the Bilgathua border in Daulatpur.
The 20-minute meeting was led by Assistant Commandant Sunil Kumar Yadav of the Raninagar Camp for the BSF, and Assistant Director Nurul Huda of the 47 BGB Kushtia Battalion for the BGB. Despite lengthy discussions, no consensus was reached regarding the stranded individuals.
BGB sources stated that a formal protest against the push-in attempt was lodged during the meeting, and a demand was made to take them back if they were verified as Indian citizens.
However, the BSF denied the push-in allegations, claiming they were verifying whether the stranded individuals were indeed Indian nationals. No specific timeframe was given for how long this verification process would take.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis for the people trapped in the border jute field has reached an extreme point. Locals reported that their physical and mental health is rapidly deteriorating due to intense heat and a severe shortage of food and water.
Concerns are growing particularly over the condition of the children. Out of humanitarian concern, local residents have been secretly providing them with food and water.
Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Kamal Roni, Commander of the 47 BGB Kushtia Battalion, stated that any illegal push-in attempts through the border will be strictly resisted.
He emphasized that the BGB remains on high alert and is maintaining communication with the BSF, keeping the humanitarian aspect in mind.