Indian Border Security Force reportedly pushed 19 more people into Bangladesh through Sylhet border on early Tuesday. | UNB photo
The Border Security Force of India pushed at least 62 more people, including 12 Rohingyas, into Bangladesh through different border points in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Lalmonirhat districts between Monday morning and Tuesday morning.
With the latest push-ins, the number of people, including Rohingyas and Indian nationals, pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF since May 7 has reached 1,617.
With the 12 Rohingyas, the Indian BSF has so far pushed at least 159 Rohingyas, including 50 registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in India, into Bangladesh.
New Age staff correspondent in Sylhet reported that 19 people were pushed into Bangladesh through Jaintapur border in Sylhet district, 20 people through Chhatak border in Sunamganj, and 16 people, including 12 Rohingya refugees, through Borolekha border in Moulvibazar.
Border Guard Bangladesh 48 Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Md Nazmul Haque said that 39 people, including women and children, were pushed into Bangladesh through the Jaintapur and Chhatak borders on Tuesday.
He said that the BSF pushed 19 people into Bangladesh territory through Minatila border point under the Jaintapur upazila at about 6:30am.
‘Later in the morning, 20 more people were pushed into Bangladesh through Noyakot border point at Chhatak upazila,’ the BGB officer said.
‘Among them, 38 people hail from Kurigram district and the rest one from Pabna district,’ he said, adding that they entered India at different times for job and they had been working in separate parts of India for a long time.
On Monday, the BSF pushed 16 individuals, including 12 Rohingya refugees, through Barlekha border in Moulvibazar.
BGB 52 Battalion commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Ariful Haque Chowdhury told New Age that the BSF pushed 12 Rohingya refugees and 4 Bangladeshis through Kumarshail border point at Shahbajpur union of Barlekha upazila at about 9:00am on Monday.
He said that a patrol team detained them immediately after they were pushed into the Bangladesh territory and handed them over to the police.
Barlekha police station officer-in-charge Abul Kashem Sarker told New Age on Tuesday that preparations were underway to send the 12 Rohingyas to the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp.
New Age correspondent in Lalmonirhat reported that seven individuals, including children, were pushed into Bangladesh through Patgram border in the district on Tuesday morning.
Nabinagar BGB camp commander Rezaul Islam said that the seven people were handed over to the Patgram police station.
Further action would be taken after verifying their identity, he said, adding that the individuals said that they hailed from Khulna district.
They claimed that they had been living in India’s Delhi for the past 35 years.
