14 of a family push-in through Chuadanga border after failure in Kushtia

Bangla Press Desk:   After an unsuccessful push-in attempt along the Kushtia border, the India’s Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly shifted its operation to the Chuadanga–Darshana border, where the same family of 14 Indian nationals was forcibly pushed into Bangladesh.

The family—comprising men, women, children and elderly members—illegally crossed the Darshana border and entered Bangladesh in the early hours of Friday (26 December).

According to local sources aware of the RHR incident and the victims, late on Thursday night (25 December) BSF personnel opened a gate in the barbed-wire fence at the Darshana Nimtala border area and forced them into Bangladesh. 

Left helpless in the biting cold, the family initially sheltered under the open sky in Darshana before eventually staying near the bus terminal.

The incident went largely unnoticed during the day but came to the attention of local residents in the evening. On humanitarian grounds, they arranged temporary shelter and provided food and warm clothing. 

Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) became active after journalists arrived and the matter spread on social media.

Failed push-in in Kushtia and flag meeting

According to BGB sources, on Thursday afternoon, BSF attempted to push the same 14 Indian nationals into Bangladesh through the Ramkrishnapur border in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia. However, the attempt was foiled due to strict patrols and prompt action by Border Guard Bangladesh (47 BGB).

To control the situation, a company commander-level flag meeting was held between the two forces. A six-member BGB delegation led by Subedar Asaduzzaman of the Mahishkundi BOP under Kushtia Battalion and a six-member BSF delegation led by AC Anil Kumar, commander of the New Uday Company of the 146 BSF Battalion, took part in the meeting.

The meeting was held from 1:40 pm to 2:20 pm on Thursday at the Chaidoaba field inside Indian territory adjacent to Main Pillar 154/07-S. 

During the meeting, BGB strongly protested the push-in attempt. After verifying identities and addresses, it was confirmed that all of them were citizens of India’s Odisha state, following which BSF was compelled to take them back into Indian territory.

Residents of Odisha, yet labelled ‘Bangladeshi.’

The victims claim they are permanent residents of Jagatsinghpur district’s Jageshwarpur/Tarikunda area in Odisha (formerly Orissa), India. All of them are Muslims. They allege that due to their religious identity, Indian police and BSF subjected them to harassment, seized their Aadhaar cards and ration cards, and then pushed them across the border after branding them as Bangladeshis.

Family member Sheikh Abdur Jabbar (70/73) said they have been living in Odisha for nearly 70 years. Their births, marriages and family lives are all rooted there. They have no knowledge of having any permanent address in any district of Bangladesh.

According to his narration, about a month ago, local police detained them late at night. After spending one month and five days in Atgarh jail, they were released on Wednesday evening. Just a few hours after their release, at around 3:00 am, BSF personnel brought them to the Kushtia border, opened the barbed-wire gate and pushed them into Bangladesh in the middle of the night.

Renewed intrusion through Chuadanga, administrative response

However, within hours, the reappearance of the same family in Bangladesh through the Chuadanga border has raised serious questions about border management. 

Upon receiving information, police and BGB reached the spot around 10:30 pm on Friday, rescued them and admitted them to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital as some of the children fell sick. 

Members of the family

Officer-in-Charge of Darshana Police Station Mehdi Hasan said the intruders include Sheikh Jabbar; his sons Sheikh Hakim, Sheikh Okil, Sheikh Raja and Sheikh Banti; their wives and other female family members, along with four children. Many of them are physically unwell. 

Initially, medical treatment is ensured. Afterwards, legal steps will be taken in consultation with the district administration and the Damurhuda Upazila Nirbahi Officer,”OC said. 

The incident has caused concern among local residents over how the same family managed to enter Bangladesh through the Chuadanga border after failing at the Kushtia frontier. While the prompt response of BGB and the administration has been praised, questions have also been raised regarding border surveillance and coordination.

Given the sensitivity of the election period, locals have demanded stronger border security and tighter administrative vigilance to prevent such push-in attempts in the future.

This correspondent tried several times to contact over the phone to Commander of BGB-6 in Chuadanga Lieutenant Colonel Nazmul Hasan but failed.

BP/SP