Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has expressed regret over the assault of five Bangladeshi citizens entering Bangladesh’s territory illegally at Phulbari border in Kurigram district.
The Indian force expressed it during a commander-level flag meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF.
The information was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Shakil Alam, the commanding officer of the 15th BGB Battalion in Lalmonirhat.
The BSF has also assured that action will be taken against the responsible personnel.
The BGB sources said that the flag meeting took place on the premises of a local resident named Abdullah, near sub-pillar 4-S of international border pillar 929 in Gorokmandal Namatari, Naodanga union of Phulbari upazila.
At first, the BGB strongly protested the incident of BSF personnel entering Bangladeshi territory and assaulting civilians.
After that, the BSF expressed regret over the incident and assured that these types of work would not happen in the future.
The BSF explained that the involved personnel were newly transferred from the Kashmir front and were unaware that they had entered Bangladesh.
They assured that the accused personnel would be dealt with under their internal regulations and pledged that such incidents would not recur in the future.
Lieutenant Colonel Shakil Alam of BGB 15 Battalion said: “The meeting was held, and we strongly protested the incident. The BSF expressed regret and mentioned that their personnel were newly stationed here from the Kashmir front. They unintentionally entered Bangladesh. The BSF assured us that administrative action would be taken against those involved and that such incidents would not happen again.”
Earlier, on Friday afternoon, five BSF personnel crossed into Bangladesh and assaulted five Bangladeshi citizens.
The incident took place approximately 500 meters inside Bangladesh near pillar no. 930 in the Krishnanand Bakshi village under Naodanga union of the upazila at around 2:30 PM.
The five injured farmers are Samsul Haque,55, Jabed Ali, 60, Khashem Ali, 48, Ripon Mia, 35, Tajul Islam, 38.
Eyewitnesses, including the injured farmers reported that they were working in their fields near the zero line, cultivating vegetables along with 10-12 other farmers. At that time, 8-10 BSF personnel from India’s Narayanganj BSF began verbally abusing them and attacking them with sticks. Fearing for their lives, the farmers fled towards the village, but the BSF personnel pursued them into the village.
The villagers then rallied and chased the BSF personnel back, who eventually retreated inside the border fence.
As news spread, more villagers gathered at the border, armed with sticks.
In response, a team from the Gorokmandal BGB Camp led by Sergeant Delwar Hossain, arrived and calmed the crowd, pushing them away from the zero line.
BGB 15th Battalion Commander Colonel Shakil Alam said that the authorities are investigating the incident and will issue a protest if the claims are confirmed.
