Opposition Lawmaker Urges UN, IOM Intervention for 10 People Stranded in Bangladesh-India Border

Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Qasem (Barrister Arman), Member of Parliament for Dhaka-14 and foreign affairs adviser to Bangladesh's opposition leader, has expressed deep concern over the plight of 10 people, including women and children, who have reportedly been stranded in the no-man's land along the Panchagarh border for more than 60 hours.

In a statement issued on Sunday, he called on the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to intervene urgently to ensure access to food, clean water, shelter, and humanitarian assistance for those affected.

Humanitarian Crisis at the Border

According to Barrister Arman, the group has been living under open skies without adequate food, drinking water, shelter, or medical care since being pushed toward the Bangladesh border by India's Border Security Force (BSF).

"I express deep concern over the inhumane conditions faced by 10 people, including women, men, and children, who have been stranded for more than 60 hours in the zero line opposite the Borobari border outpost in the Panchagarh-Nilphamari region," he said.

"Among them are children. Every hour spent without food, clean water, shelter, and medical assistance increases the risks to their lives."

Push-In Allegations and Border Standoff

Citing media reports and statements from the commanding officer of the 56 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion in Nilphamari, Arman said the BSF attempted to push the group into Bangladesh early Friday morning.

However, he said the individuals were unable to enter Bangladesh due to the firm stance taken by BGB personnel.

Subsequent flag meetings at company and battalion levels reportedly failed to resolve the situation, as Indian authorities allegedly declined to take the individuals back. As a result, the group has remained trapped between the border fences of the two countries for more than three days.

Arman added that another reported attempt to push the group toward Bangladesh on Sunday renewed tensions along the frontier.

Call for Humanitarian Assistance

The opposition lawmaker emphasized that determining the identity, nationality, and legal responsibility for the stranded individuals is a matter for the governments of Bangladesh and India to resolve through established diplomatic channels and discussions between the directors general of the two border forces.

However, he stressed that humanitarian concerns should not be delayed while legal or diplomatic questions remain unresolved.

"Whatever their legal status may be, they are human beings," he said. "Their basic rights and humanitarian needs cannot depend on political or diplomatic decisions."

He urged both countries to ensure uninterrupted access to food, safe drinking water, emergency shelter, and medical treatment, with special priority given to women and children.

Appeal to India and International Organizations

Arman called on Indian authorities to stop what he described as the practice of illegal push-ins across the border.

At the same time, he said he had formally drawn the attention of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the humanitarian situation and requested their active involvement in securing immediate humanitarian access and assistance for the stranded individuals.

"I have formally appealed to the UN Resident Coordinator and the IOM to take urgent and proactive steps to ensure humanitarian access and basic support for these vulnerable people," he said.

Call for Urgent Government Action

The opposition leader's adviser also urged the Bangladeshi government to take immediate diplomatic and humanitarian measures to address the crisis.

"As an opposition party, we stand beside these affected individuals," he said. "We also call upon the government to undertake urgent diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives. Nothing is more important than human life and dignity."

The incident has added to longstanding concerns over cross-border push-ins, border security, and the treatment of migrants and civilians along the Bangladesh-India frontier.