Attempted Push-In at Panchagarh

 

Attempted Push-In at Panchagarh: 10 People Stranded at Border Zero Line for Nearly 60 Hours

Under the scorching sun of the Bengali month of Jaishtha and amid intermittent rain, 10 people—including women and children—have remained stranded at the border zero line in Panchagarh for nearly 60 hours following an alleged push-in attempt by India's Border Security Force (BSF).

The group has been confined to a narrow embankment separating cultivated fields at the Barobari–Pradhanpara border, where rainwater has accumulated, leaving them exposed to harsh weather conditions. On one side stand members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) with rifles in hand; on the other, BSF personnel maintain their position.

From 5:00 a.m. on Friday until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, neither Bangladesh nor India allowed the group to enter its territory, forcing them to remain under the open sky in no-man's-land. The stranded individuals include five men, two women, and three children.

According to the BGB, the BSF attempted to push the 10 individuals into Bangladesh through the border early Friday morning. However, heightened surveillance prevented them from entering Bangladeshi territory. BGB officials and local residents said the group endured severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms and heavy rain on Friday night, while remaining exposed at the border.

Efforts to resolve the situation through bilateral talks have so far failed. A flag meeting between commanders of Bangladesh's 56th BGB Battalion and India's 93rd BSF Battalion was held at the Barobari–Pradhanpara border at around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Earlier, on Friday, company-level commanders from the BGB's Barobari Border Outpost (BOP) and the BSF's Sakati Camp also held discussions. Neither meeting produced a breakthrough.

The incident has drawn growing attention from local residents, many of whom have gathered on the Bangladeshi side of the border. Concerned about the plight of the stranded group, particularly the women and children, residents have urged both governments to intervene and resolve the matter swiftly.

Md. Zahirul Haque, a resident of the Barobari area, said, “It is heartbreaking to watch these people, especially the children, suffer in such conditions for three days. Even those of us standing in the shade find it difficult to cope with the heat. It is hard to imagine how they are surviving on that waterlogged embankment.”

Rahidul Islam, a resident of South Pradhanpara, expressed similar concerns. “Seeing the children there brings tears to my eyes. How long can anyone survive standing in water under the blazing sun? They have no food and no access to basic sanitation facilities. Both governments should discuss the issue and resolve it immediately. Otherwise, the situation could become life-threatening,” he said.

Speaking to Prothom Alo on Sunday afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Md. Sirajul Islam, commander of the 56th BGB Battalion in Nilphamari, said he had once again requested the commander of India's 93rd BSF Battalion to take back the individuals involved in the alleged push-in attempt.

“Even today, I asked the BSF commander to take back those individuals, but they refused,” he said. “We remain firm in our position that we will not accept them in this manner. At the same time, we have informed our higher authorities and will act in accordance with the instructions we receive.”