Over 1,000 citizens of troubled Bangladesh sought refuge in India on Friday at the border in Coochbehar district of West Bengal. BSF sources said."On August 9, Guwahati Frontier of Border Security Force (BSF) successfully addressed a significant and different kind of challenge at the India-Bangladesh border in Coochbehar District, West Bengal. Approximately 1,000 individuals, reportedly Bangladeshi nationals, approached the international border, seeking refuge in India," the sources said.
Upon encountering the group, the BSF promptly approached its counterpart, the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), to take the Bangladeshi nationals back, ensuring the situation was managed without escalating tensions."The quick and decisive actions of the BSF, in coordination with India's civil administration, were crucial in maintaining order and resolving the issue," the statement added.
Bangladesh has been passing through a turbulent phase amidst the virtual collapse of law and order, brutal killings and deadly clashes across the nation in the aftermath of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5 in the face of a student-led public rebellion.
Over 500 people have been killed since last month in clashes, with hundreds of crores worth of government and private property vandalised or reduced to ashes.
BSF optimistic of good ties with BGB under new Bangladesh regime
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday expressed optimism about continued good relations with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus took charge as the head of the interim government following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime.
“Till now we have an excellent relationship with the BGB. I don’t see a drastic change in their attitude because they are a professional force and we are also a professional force. We keep on interacting with them. There is a spirit of understanding at the highest level. I don’t see any immediate threats to relations with India,” Inspector General of BSF, Meghalaya Frontier, Harbax Singh Dhillon told UNI.
The BSF official said the situation is far from normal except in the hinterland as per the information available. "However, things are slowly becoming normal on the ground," he added.
“The BGB were confined to the camps and their reinforcement has taken place. They are controlling their areas. We are communicating with the BGB and in the last few days we were in touch with them,” he said, adding that BSF troops have been on high alert and patrolling the border since Bangladesh plunged into political violence.
“Our troops are on high alert. We have increased our strength in the border and readjusted the area of domination. We have revisited all the vulnerable points and Regular assessment is being done and everything is being reviewed,” the IG BSF said.
On the anti-Indian sentiments and attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, Dhillon exuded hope that Muhammad Yunus would protect the interests of the Hindus and other religious minorities.“As per the statement of (former Bangladesh Prime Minister) Khaleda Zia and Prof. Mohamad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government, it was a clear indicator that all religious minorities will be protected. Our government is well versed with the ongoing situation in Bangladesh and it will take up the matter accordingly,” Dhillon said.
As of today, the IG BSF said, not a single Bangladeshi has tried to enter India on humanitarian ground or otherwise across Meghalaya’s 444 km international border with the neighbouring nation.“As I have told you, our troops are on high alert and special vulnerability areas assessment is being done and everything is being reviewed and one can also feel the difference on the ground zero itself,” he asserted.
Asked if Bangladesh may once again become a safe haven for insurgents from India's northeastern states, the IG BSF said, “As of today, there are no indications to that. If such things happen we will assess the situation and react to it as BSF is a professional force which is also involved in fighting insurgency be it in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and in the North Eastern States. We know how to take appropriate steps and take precautionary guards.”(UNI)
