Bangladesh Firmly Resisting India’s Alleged Push-In Attempts, Says State Minister

Bangladesh is firmly resisting attempts by India to push individuals across the border, and has sent between 12 and 13 official letters to the Indian government calling for an end to the practice, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Monday.

Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, Shama Obaed Islam stated that there is an established legal process for repatriating individuals residing illegally in another country and that India should follow those procedures.

“There is a process for returning people who are staying illegally. India must adhere to that process,” she said, adding that push-in incidents could negatively affect efforts to restore and strengthen bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

In recent weeks, a large number of members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed along border areas in 26 districts to prevent alleged attempts by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to force individuals, including women and children, into Bangladesh.

According to officials, BGB personnel have been maintaining round-the-clock surveillance along the frontier, with local residents in several border communities also assisting security efforts.

Meanwhile, the 57th Director General-level conference between the BGB and BSF began in New Delhi on Monday and is scheduled to continue until June 11.

The BGB said key issues on the agenda include alleged illegal push-ins, the killing of Bangladeshi nationals along the border, and broader border management concerns.

Officials hope that the meeting will provide an opportunity for both sides to address longstanding border-related issues and strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ border forces.