BGB heightens security on north-east frontiers, India imposes curfew

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has ramped up patrols and intelligence operations along the 103.2-kilometer Habiganj border following reports of forced entries of Rohingya and foreign nationals from India into other Bangladeshi districts.

Lt Col Md Tanzilur Rahman, Commander of BGB’s 55 Battalion, confirmed heightened alertness to prevent any infiltration, with reinforced border outposts and community-supported surveillance.

“We are fully prepared to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty,” he said. No push-ins have occurred in Habiganj due to rigorous monitoring.

Diplomatic sources reported push-ins of Indian Bengali speakers and Rohingya into Khagrachhari, Kurigram, and Moulvibazar in early May.

Concurrently, India imposed a night curfew in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, and West Jaintia Hills, bordering Sylhet, effective May 8.

Signed by East Jaintia Hills District Magistrate Shri Shivansh Arasthira, the order cites unfenced borders as risks for smuggling and illegal infiltration, enforcing a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am within 500 meters of the border until further notice.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad and BGB 48 Battalion Commander Lt Col Md Nazmul Haque confirmed the curfew order, with Haque noting increased BGB patrols and anti-smuggling efforts.

India’s Shillong Times reported the curfew aims to deter nighttime activities by smugglers and banned militant groups in unfenced areas.