India continues illegal push-ins

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:25 AM

Bangla Press Desk: In a blatant disregard for international laws and bilateral agreements, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) continues to push individuals, including Indian Muslims and Rohingya refugees registered with the UN, into Bangladesh. Over the past 23 days – from 7 May to 29 May, it pushed in at least 1,066 people across various border areas, despite repeated protests from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) through flag meetings and diplomatic channels. In the latest incident, 13 people, mostly women, were forcibly pushed into Bangladesh through the Enayetpur border in Birol upazila of Dinajpur early Thursday. BGB and police said these people were taken to a BGB camp and the next steps will be taken after confirming their identities.

According to the BGB, the highest number of push-ins occurred through Moulvibazar (331 individuals), followed by Khagrachhari (111), Sylhet (103) and Kurigram (84). Significant numbers were also reported in Lalmonirhat (75), Jhenaidah (42), Feni (39), Panchagarh (32), Meherpur (30), Satkhira (23), Habiganj (19), Thakurgaon (19), Chuadanga (19), Chapainawabganj (17),Dinajpur (15) and Cumilla (13). Besides, 78 people were pushed into Bangladesh through the remote Mandarbaria area of the Sundarbans. The Indian border force also resorted to cruel methods to push in the individuals. Selina Begum, 41, recounted the nightmare, saying BSF men tied her, her husband and their three daughters with empty plastic bottles and threw them into the Feni River near the Sabrang border in Tripura on 21 May night.

They floated in the river all night until they were rescued by Bangladeshi border residents the next morning. According to BGB sources, around 6:00 am on 22 May, locals rescued Selina, her husband Ummed Ali, 47, and daughters Rumi Khatun, 16, Rumpa Khatun, 15, and Sumaiya Khatun, 6, from the river. Later, the BGB took them into custody. The family said they were working as labourers in Haryana, India. When the local police in Haryana arrested them, their mobile phones and rupees were taken away.

They were brought to Tripura state by trains and taken to a BSF camp. And then they were tied with the plastic bottles and thrown into the river. Seeking anonymity, a woman, 45, said she had been living in India for the past 10 years. On 10 May, she and her husband were arrested by the police and taken to a police station in New Delhi along with 46 others. They were not given food for three days. They survived by drinking water. They were finally taken to a BSF camp and pushed into Bangladesh around 3:00 am on 11 May.

BGB Director General (DG) Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said the push-ins by the BSF and other Indian agencies continue despite repeated protests through flag meetings and diplomatic channels. He said the BGB is on high alert and has intensified surveillance and patrolling in sensitive border areas. Many of those being pushed in are Bangladeshi nationals who had been living in India for years. Many of their children were born in India and had Indian documents. But all their documents were forcibly taken away from them before the push-ins, the BGB chief said. He added that such unilateral steps violate established repatriation procedures and bilateral norms. Citing a recent example, the BGB chief said five Rohingya refugees registered with the Indian office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were forcibly pushed in through the Kurigram border on 7 May. About the push-ins, Brig Gen Md Nazim-ud-Daula, the director of the Military Operations Directorate of Bangladesh Army, said, "This is in no way desirable, acceptable. Currently, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is dealing with issues along the border. However, if it is necessary for any reason or if the government orders it, the army will also work in this regard. However, this cannot be desirable in any way." Source: DS [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/ZE

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]