BSF push-in attempt foiled at Kurigram border

PARBATTA NEWS DESK

An attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to push around 50 to 60 people into Bangladesh was foiled late Friday night at the Kochakata border in Kurigram’s Nageshwari upazila.

The incident occurred near the Shovarkuti and Shipherhat border areas of Kedar Union.

Local sources said BSF personnel from Golokganj police station in Assam’s Dhubri district brought the group in two pickup vans around 7pm and gathered them at a school in India’s Faiskarkuti village, close to the border.

BSF reportedly turned off all lights in the area and tried to carry out the push-in under the cover of darkness.

As word spread, hundreds of locals formed a human wall along about one kilometre of the border and kept vigil through the night.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from Kochakata and Kedar camps, along with Ansar-VDP teams, also took position to prevent any illegal entry.

BSF troops took up position on the Indian side and moved close to the zero line around 2am. They reportedly attempted to talk to BGB, but the request was declined. BSF later withdrew around 3am.

Confirming the incident, Lt Col Mahbub-ul-Haque, commander of Kurigram-22 BGB, said, “To ensure that BSF cannot illegally push anyone into Bangladesh, BGB, Ansar members, and local residents are jointly guarding the border. Border patrols have been strengthened.”