Tension flared at the Bharat-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar District, on Friday as approximately 1,000 individuals, mostly Hindus from Bangladesh, assembled near the border, seeking refuge in Bharat.
The Guwahati Frontier of the Border Security Force or BSF successfully intervened to prevent any unauthorised entry. The group, positioned about 400 metres from the fence in Bangladesh’s Lalmonirhat district, was unable to cross into Bharat due to the border’s tight security.
According to a senior BSF official, the situation was quickly managed through coordination with the Border Guards Bangladesh or BGB, ensuring that the individuals were sent back to Bangladesh without incident.
“The Bangladeshis had gathered at the border, but none were able to enter the country as the border was completely sealed. They were later taken back by the BGB into their own country,” the official confirmed.
Local resident Ikramul Haque reported that the crowd began forming around 9-9:30 am. He noted that while many remained at the border, the presence of BSF personnel and strict border security prevented any infiltration.
“The crowd has thinned out a little now, though. Their arrival in Bharat all of a sudden is not possible. There is a protocol for it. There is a large presence of the BSF,” Haque added.
In response to the incident, the Indian Government has formed a high-level committee to address the ongoing border issues. Announced by the Border Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs-MHA, the five-member committee will oversee communication with Bangladeshi authorities to safeguard Indian citizens and minority communities.
The committee will be led by Eastern Command BSF Additional Director General Ravi Gandhi with members including the Inspector General (IG) of BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, IG of BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, a Member (Planning and Development) of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), and the Secretary of LPAI.
