BGB, locals foil BSF’s push-in along Kurigram border

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly attempted to push a group of people into Bangladeshi territory, flaring tensions along the Kochakata border in Kurigram last night (May 30), BGB officials said.

They said members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and VDP personnel along with local residents prevented the push-ins.

Local sources said the incident took place at the Shovarkuti and Shiperhat border points in Kedar Union under the Kochakata border area.

Several hundred villagers formed a human barricade along the border and kept vigil throughout the night to prevent any illegal entry.

According to locals, at around 7pm, BSF personnel from Golakganj Police Station in Assam’s Dhubri district gathered 50 to 60 people at a school near the Indian border village of Faiskarkuti, adjacent to Bangladesh.

With all lights in the area switched off, BSF allegedly tried to push the group across the border.

Local villagers quickly mobilised and took strong positions along the border. Shortly afterwards, multiple teams from the Kochakata and Kedar camps of BGB-22 arrived to reinforce security and block any illegal infiltration.

BSF troops positioned themselves on the Indian side of the border and by around 2am advanced to the zero line.

Sources reported that BSF attempted to initiate dialogue with BGB several times, but BGB personnel did not respond.

By 3am, BSF troops withdrew from the zero line.

Lieutenant Colonel Mahbub Ul Haque, commanding officer of BGB-22, said, “BGB, along with Ansar forces and local residents, jointly maintained strict vigilance to ensure BSF makes no illegal push-in attempts. We have intensified border patrols.”