Atrocities of BSF/How BGB responds

[Saif]

India's unilateral 'push-ins' in Bangladesh a blow to already strained ties

India must respect international norms in border conduct

www.thedailystar.net

India's unilateral 'push-ins' in Bangladesh a blow to already strained ties
India must respect international norms in border conduct

VISUAL: STAR

We strongly protest India's action of pushing at least 123 individuals, including Rohingyas and Bangla-speaking people, into Bangladesh through the Kurigram and Khagrachhari border points. Reportedly, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained these individuals and is currently verifying their identities, as they possess no IDs or passports. Furthermore, the BGB has issued a high alert along the border and lodged a strong protest note with India's Border Security Force (BSF), advising against such push-ins.

Flag meetings with the BSF have also been requested at various levels. Meanwhile, the Police Headquarters has alerted the superintendents of police in 31 bordering districts to ensure that our national security is not compromised amid the escalation of the India-Pakistan conflict. At a time when tensions between India and Pakistan have reached their highest point in years, it is shocking that India would choose this moment to push individuals into Bangladesh without consulting the Bangladeshi authorities.

We must say that there is no basis in international law for such unilateral "push-ins." In fact, it is entirely contrary to accepted diplomatic norms. Why did India not consult the Bangladeshi government before deciding to send these people? This is a question Bangladesh must raise. At the same time, our border security forces must remain on high alert.

Out of these individuals, 44, including 35 Rohingyas, were detained from the Roumari and Bhurungamari upazilas of Kurigram—30 in Roumari and 14 in Bhurungamari. Meanwhile, in Khagrachhari, at least 79 additional Bangla-speaking individuals were detained after being pushed in through three border points—27 at the Shantipur border in Matiranga upazila, 22 at the Taitong border in Dighinala upazila, and 30 at the Panchhari border in Panchhari upazila. According to a resident of Shantipur who had sheltered one of the individuals arriving from India, these people were flown from Gujarat to Agartala and then forcibly pushed across the border. They were also reportedly warned by BSF personnel never to return, or they would be shot.

We must say that there is no basis in international law for such unilateral "push-ins." In fact, it is entirely contrary to accepted diplomatic norms. Why did India not consult the Bangladeshi government before deciding to send these people? This is a question Bangladesh must raise. At the same time, our border security forces must remain on high alert. After all, we still do not know the identities of the individuals who have been pushed in. Moreover, it remains unclear whether India intends to carry out further push-ins—including of Rohingyas from Myanmar—into Bangladesh in the future.

In their interactions with Indian officials, Bangladesh authorities must make it clear that any such action must involve consultation with the local authorities first. No unilateral decision that threatens our national security, sovereignty, or territorial integrity can be accepted.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh to urge India to stop border push-ins

At least 110 people were pushed in a single day through the Khagrachhari and Kurigram borders by India’s Border Security Force (BSF).

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladesh to urge India to stop border push-ins
Diplomatic Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 09 May 2025, 13: 12

File Photo

In the first week of May, at least 167 people, including Rohingya, were pushed into Bangladesh from India through various border points. Diplomatic sources say more than a hundred others may also be sent in the same way soon.

The government of Bangladesh is seriously concerned about these incidents, which go against the border management system agreed upon by both countries. A senior official told Prothom Alo on Thursday that a formal message will soon be sent to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, requesting urgent steps to stop these push-ins.

From 4 to 7 May, 167 people were pushed into Bangladesh through five districts—73 through Khagrachhari, 46 through Kurigram, 23 through Sylhet, 15 through Moulvibazar, and 10 through Chuadanga—according to diplomatic and law enforcement sources.

At least 110 people were pushed in a single day through the Khagrachhari and Kurigram borders by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). Only eight of them claimed to be Bangladeshi citizens. The rest said they were Rohingya or residents of Gujarat, India.

Sources also said around 200 people were flown from Gujarat to Tripura on a special, unscheduled flight operated by an Indian airline under BSF supervision. Some of them have already been sent into Bangladesh. Others are reportedly still in Agartala and may be sent in the coming days.

In response to the situation, Bangladesh has contacted Indian authorities. Some diplomatic sources said India has provided Dhaka with a list of people it claims crossed into India from Bangladesh in recent years.

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday to review the issue. It was decided that if any of the pushed-in individuals are confirmed to be Bangladeshi citizens, they may be accepted. However, those whose citizenship cannot be verified will not be allowed to enter.

‘Push back’ not possible

Former officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi say there is no recent precedent for so many push-ins from India within such a short period. They also noted that, in the past, individuals pushed into Bangladesh were often immediately sent back. But this time, that process has not taken place.

According to sources in the local administration and law enforcement, 61 people were arrested last Wednesday by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) for allegedly crossing into Bangladesh through the Doloi area of Kamalganj in Moulvibazar and the Roumari and Bhurungamari borders in Kurigram.

However, 73 people detained in Khagrachhari earlier on Wednesday have not yet been pushed back. Acting Deputy Commissioner of Khagrachhari, Nazmun Ara Sultana, told Prothom Alo that there has been no new incident of people being pushed into Bangladesh in that district.

In Moulvibazar, the BGB arrested 15 people, including women and children, from Kamalganj upazila for illegally crossing the border. Kamalganj UNO Makhon Chandra Sutradhar said the detainees—nine men, three women, and three children—are still being held at a BGB camp and will likely be handed over to the local police.

Diplomatic sources describe the recent push-ins as a serious concern for national security and public sentiment. They say such actions go against several bilateral agreements and understandings, including the 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) of 2011, and decisions made during Director General-level talks between the BGB and BSF.

Officials with experience in diplomatic and border affairs recalled that earlier push-ins were usually followed by swift push-backs. In one notable case in January 2003, India attempted to push over 200 people into Bangladesh via the Lalmonirhat border.

Due to Bangladesh’s firm stance, those individuals were stuck at the zero line for nearly two months. The issue was later addressed in diplomatic talks between then Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan and his Indian counterpart Yashwant Sinha. Just before the talks, the group disappeared from the zero line.​

 

[Saif]

Blood on the border

ONE of the most tragic and unresolved human rights crises in South Asia is the deadly border killings by the Indian border forces. India’s Border Security Force kills Bangladeshi civilians despite the many bilateral agreements and repeated diplomatic assurances...

www.newagebd.net

Blood on the border
by Mohammad Asaduzzaman 11 May, 2025, 00:00

Felani Khatun hanging dead from the barbed-wire fence in the border. | Web

ONE of the most tragic and unresolved human rights crises in South Asia is the deadly border killings by the Indian border forces. India’s Border Security Force kills Bangladeshi civilians despite the many bilateral agreements and repeated diplomatic assurances, frequently under the guise of stopping smuggling or illegal crossings. Recent events in 2025 make it abundantly clear that the cycle of violence is far from over and that immediate action is required.

Grim statistical reality

IN THE first quarter of 2025 alone, at least 10 Bangladeshis were reportedly killed in the Bangladesh-India border, with multiple others injured or arrested in violent border clashes. One notable case occurred in early March in Panchagarh district, where Al Amin, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi, was shot dead approximately 150 metres from the border. According to Indian border force officials, the shooting happened during a confrontation with cattle smugglers, with the Indian guards claiming self-defence after one smuggler allegedly attacked an Indian border guard with a knife. However, the Border Guard Bangladesh strongly protested, condemning the killing as a violation of human rights and a breach of the bilateral consensus against the use of lethal weapons on the border. A formal protest was lodged, and the Bangladesh guards demanded justice and accountability.

Such incidents are not isolated. In 2024, 47 Bangladeshis were reportedly shot dead by the Indian guards, with 158 others arrested, according to the Human Rights Support Society. The persistence of these killings, despite diplomatic efforts, underscores the fragile and volatile nature of border security between the two countries.

The scale of the violence is staggering. Between 2000 and 2020, rights groups such as Odhikar and Ain O Salish Kendra documented at least 1,236 Bangladeshis killed and more than 1,145 injured in BSF shooting along the border. In the last decade alone, at least 305 Bangladeshis lost their lives and 282 sustained injuries, according to more recent data from 2015 to 2024.

These figures reveal a disturbing pattern of lethal force used disproportionately against civilians, many of whom are poor farmers or innocent bystanders. Despite India fencing over 3,200 kilometres of the border, the violence continues unabated, suggesting India’s ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy that disregards international norms on the use of force.

Diplomatic strains, failed assurances

THE border killing has for long been a sore point in Bangladesh-India relations. The killing of 15-year-old Felani Khatun in 2011 became a global symbol of the human cost of this conflict, yet the violence has persisted for over a decade. The recent change in Bangladesh’s government in August 2024, following a mass uprising, has further complicated diplomatic ties, with the new administration taking a firmer stance on sovereignty and border security.

Despite a high-level director general conference between the Bangladesh and the Indian border forces in February 2025, where both sides agreed to reduce border killings to zero and increase joint patrols, the killings have not ceased. The agreement also included commitments to exchange intelligence, conduct joint inspections near border constructions, and raise public awareness in border communities. However, these promises remain largely on paper, as evidenced by continued shootings and arrests.

Experts and human rights advocates criticise the Indian approach as excessively militarised and ‘trigger-happy’, calling for a shift from lethal force to lawful and proportionate responses. Dr Mizanur Rahman, a former chair of Bangladesh’s National Human Rights Commission, underscores that international law authorises the use of force on the basis of strict proportionality and self-defence standards, which are frequently disregarded by the Indian border guards.

Impact on Bangladeshis

THE human toll of these killings extends beyond the immediate loss of life. Border communities live in constant fear, their livelihoods disrupted by violence and harassment. Many victims are engaged in subsistence farming or cattle trading, activities that often require approaching the border. The trauma inflicted by losing family members, sometimes children like Felani or Swarna Das, deepens mistrust and resentment towards Indian authorities.

Anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh has been steadily intensifying, fuelled largely by the persistent killings of Bangladeshi civilians by the Indian Border Security Force along the border. These tragic incidents have sparked widespread outrage and resentment among the common people of Bangladesh, who see these acts as blatant violations of human rights and sovereignty. The repeated failure of Indian authorities to effectively curb the ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy and hold perpetrators accountable has deepened public frustration.

Protests and anti-India rhetoric have become more frequent, with many Bangladeshis perceiving India’s stance as indifferent or even hostile towards their lives and dignity. This growing agitation is not limited to political circles; it permeates everyday conversations and social media, where narratives of injustice and calls for justice resonate strongly, further straining the historically friendly ties between the two nations.

This escalating hostility has poisoned the centuries-old people-to-people contact. The old history of cultural interaction, shared celebrations, family ties, and economic reliance has turned to anxiety, mistrust, and loss. Living under the shadow of deadly force, the daily reality of border villages has frayed the social fabric linking the people on both sides. Along with undermining grassroots goodwill, this mistrust hinders diplomatic efforts since public animosity fosters nationalist and opposition narratives that present India as a controlling ‘big brother’ apathetic to Bangladesh’s sovereignty and human rights.

Way forward

THE question remains: when will the border killings end? The answer lies in political will and genuine commitment from both countries, especially India, to respect human rights and uphold bilateral agreements.

India must urgently revise its border management policies, replacing lethal force with non-lethal alternatives and ensuring accountability for violations. Bangladesh, for its part, should continue pressing for justice through diplomatic channels and international forums, if necessary.

Only through sustained dialogue, transparency, and respect for human dignity can the border be transformed from a zone of death into a space of peace and cooperation. Until then, the bloodshed will continue to stain the soil of two neighbouring nations that share not only a border but a common history and future. The persistence of these numbers despite repeated diplomatic dialogues highlights the urgent need for concrete action.

The ongoing border killings are not just statistics; they are human lives lost to a policy that prioritises force over justice. Ending this cycle is imperative — not only for the sake of bilateral relations but for the dignity and safety of the people living along this long and troubled border.

Dr Mohammad Asaduzzaman is a professor of linguistics in the University of Dhaka and director general of the International Mother Language Institute.​

 

[Bilal9]

BSF kills Bangladeshi youth in B’baria border

A Bangladeshi youth was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on the Madla border under Kasba upazila of the district. The deceased was identified as Shakib, 17, son of Motaleb Hossain, a resident of Madla Guchchagram (Cluster village) in Bayek union of the upazila. Shakib died this

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BSF kills Bangladeshi youth in B’baria border
Published :
May 05, 2025 17:06
Updated :
May 05, 2025 17:06

View attachment 17088

A Bangladeshi youth was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on the Madla border under Kasba upazila of the district.

The deceased was identified as Shakib, 17, son of Motaleb Hossain, a resident of Madla Guchchagram (Cluster village) in Bayek union of the upazila.

Shakib died this morning while undergoing treatment at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, reports BSS.

The firing incident took place in the border area on Sunday night. An Indian citizen named Sujan Barman, 35, was also shot and injured.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kasba Police Station Abdul Kader said that a Bangladeshi youth named Shakib and an Indian citizen were shot by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on the Madla border in Kasba upazila at midnight on Sunday.

The locals sent the injured Shakib to Cumilla and the Indian national to Dhaka, he said.

Kasba Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Samiul Islam said that Shakib went to the Madla border on Sunday night to bring a stolen motorcycle through an Indian youth, Sujon.

At that time, BSF members patrolling the border opened fire on them. Sujon and Shakib were shot. Later, Shakib was taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, where he died while undergoing treatment on Monday morning. His body has been brought to his home.​

Time is getting close for accidental death of a few border crosser BSF jawans in "oops sorry, trigger finger" style. Just collateral damage.

 

[Saif]

India’s push-in attempts go on Dhaka sends letter to Delhi

The Border Security Force of India is continuing attempts to push people into Bangladesh territory through different bordering areas amid heightened security measures.

www.newagebd.net

India’s push-in attempts go on Dhaka sends letter to Delhi
Staff Correspondent 14 May, 2025, 00:11

Individuals pushed into Bangladesh by the Indian Border Security Force wait in front of the Shaymnagar police station in Satkhira on Tuesday. | New Age photo

The Border Security Force of India is continuing attempts to push people into Bangladesh territory through different bordering areas amid heightened security measures.

A tense situation was prevailing in the bordering areas on Tuesday as several hundred people were waiting in the Indian side to enter Bangladesh in different areas, including the bordering areas of Khagrachari district, according to local people and Border Guard Bangladesh officials.

About 300 people including Rohingyas and Indian nationals were pushed into Bangladesh between May 7 and May 11, the officials of the law enforcement agencies from bordering districts said.

Dhaka has, meanwhile, requested New Delhi to stop any such attempts to push people into Bangladesh territory through different bordering points.

The request was made in a diplomatic communication sent to New Delhi on May 9, a foreign ministry official in Dhaka confirmed.

While talking to reporters following the ninth meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Law and Order, held at the secretariat in Dhaka on Monday, BGB director general Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said that the BSF had been attempting to push 200-300 people from the Indian side, opposite to Khagrachari, into Bangladesh for the past two days.

‘BSF could not push them into Bangladesh as we increased our patrolling and vigilance,’ he said and added that India had chosen the remote areas to push people into Bangladesh.

It is not possible to tackle such incidents with physical presence there, he said.

The BGB chief said that the BSF pushed 202 individuals into Bangladesh on May 7 and eight through the unpopulated areas.

He said that among those pushed in were 39 Rohingyas who had previously gone to India from Bangladesh.

Five of the Rohingyas were found to possess identification cards issued by the UNHCR in India.

A flag meeting was convened regarding this matter and the BSF denied the issue as they did always and Bangladesh’s foreign ministry will formally inform India of the meeting, said the BGB chief.

The push-in began on May 7 when 123 people were forced to enter Bangladesh from the Indian side through different border points in Khagrachari and Kurigram districts amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

New Age correspondent in Satkhira reported that the BSF and Indian Navy on May 9 allegedly pushed 78 people into Bangladesh through the Mandarbaria area under the Satkhira range of the Sunderbans West Forest Zone.

Addressing a press conference at the Shaymnagar police station premises on Tuesday, Bangladesh Coast Guard’s west zone operations officer Lieutenant Commander Abrar Hasan said that 75 of them were Bangladeshi citizens and three were Indian nationals.

He said that 75 Bangladeshis were handed over to their families on Tuesday and three Indians were sent to jail through a court in Satkhira on Monday after filing a case with Shyamnagar police station.

‘Most of them had been living in India’s Gujrtat state for years,’ he added.

The BGB has tightened its patrolling along the borders in Rajshahi division following the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, New Age Staff Correspondent in Rajshahi reported.

The force has also asked the farmers and fishermen not to take their cattle along the borders to feed and not to catch fish in the Padma River at night.

Rajshahi BGB sector commander colonel Md Imran Ibne A Rouf said that they had strengthened their patrolling along the bordering areas of Rajshahi division.

The BGB official said that they had also asked the farmers not to take their cattle along the borders as the cattle might enter Indian territory.

‘We have also asked the fishermen not to catch fish at night as they may trespass into the Indian territory of the Padma River while fishing in the dark of night,’ he added.​

 

[Mainerik]

The outcome of subservient foreign policy of Bangladesh's current regime.

@Bagheera0084 @Krishna with Flute Do you understand Bengali?

 

[Bagheera0084]

@Bagheera0084 @Krishna with Flute Do you understand Bengali?

Nope.

 

[Bilal9]

@Bagheera0084 @Krishna with Flute Do you understand Bengali?

This is Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad.

He is holding the Kneel down subservient Bangladesh foreign policy as responsible for BSF-initiated border killings at the India Bangladesh border. He posits that a stronger foreign policy position pursued with India would be constructive in halting BSF crime and misdeeds.

 

[Saif]

Why India’s border ‘push-ins’ are unwarranted

If India’s objective were to combat illegal infiltration, there would have been no need to blindfold and torture these individuals, including women and children, and abandon them in uninhabited terrain along the border. India and Bangladesh have several protocols in place for border management...

en.prothomalo.com

Why India’s border ‘push-ins’ are unwarranted
If India’s objective were to combat illegal infiltration, there would have been no need to blindfold and torture these individuals, including women and children, and abandon them in uninhabited terrain along the border.

Kallol Mustafa
Published: 14 May 2025, 12: 54

The BSF had placed 78 individuals on a ship and abandoned them at Mandarbaria, a remote char in the Sundarbans. These individuals were later rescued by the Coast Guard. Prothom Alo

India’s approach to border management has long been marked by aggression, with frequent reports of the country’s Border Security Force (BSF) resorting to shooting, torturing, or killing Bangladeshi nationals along the border. In recent weeks, this aggressive stance has taken a disturbing turn: a significant number of people have been forcibly pushed into Bangladesh from India.

According to reports published in Prothom Alo, from 4 to 7 May, 167 people were pushed across the border into Bangladesh through five different districts. These included 73 through Khagrachhari, 46 through Kurigram, 23 through Sylhet, 15 through Moulvibazar, and 10 through Chuadanga. Then, on 9 May, the BSF offloaded another 78 individuals in Mandarbaria Char, a remote island in the Sundarbans region of Shyamnagar upazila.

Many of them were severely ill after being deprived of food for days; some bore visible signs of physical abuse, while one had a fractured arm. According to the victims, they were blindfolded, subjected to brutal treatment, and airlifted from Gujarat to Bangladesh.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has confirmed that those pushed into the country include nationals of three countries - Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar.

Among them are long-term Bangladeshi migrants who had lived in India for 20–25 years, often with families, and had obtained Indian Aadhaar cards and other official documents. The Indian authorities reportedly confiscated those documents and forcibly separated individuals from their families before pushing them into Bangladesh.

These push-ins are unlikely to be isolated or accidental. Rather, they suggest a calculated effort by India to exert pressure on Bangladesh's interim administration. This pressure is being exerted in parallel with negative propaganda about Bangladesh in Indian media subservient to the ruling BJP.

There are also Rohingya refugees in the group - some previously registered in camps in Bangladesh, others recognised as refugees in India with valid UNHCR identity cards issued there.

International law and bilateral agreements clearly stipulate that if a foreign national is found to have entered a country illegally, due process must be followed for repatriation. The actions taken by India - bypassing all diplomatic protocols and forcibly pushing people into Bangladesh - are not only illegal but also constitute a gross violation of human rights and international norms.

Bangladesh responded by issuing a diplomatic note of protest to India on 9 May. However, the situation remains tense, with reports indicating that more groups of people are being assembled along the border for further push-ins.

This sudden escalation is not without precedent. In the early 2000s, during the first BJP-led NDA government, push-ins were a common practice. That trend largely subsided following political changes in both countries.

But now, in the wake of Bangladesh’s political transition following the 5 August mass uprising—which led to the fall of the India-aligned Awami League government—India appears to be increasingly putting pressure on Bangladesh.

These push-ins are unlikely to be isolated or accidental. Rather, they suggest a calculated effort by India to exert pressure on Bangladesh's interim administration. This pressure is being exerted in parallel with negative propaganda about Bangladesh in Indian media subservient to the ruling BJP.

Importantly, Bangladesh has not retaliated by suspending India’s access to transit routes or port facilities, despite these being critical to India’s connectivity in the region. Yet, in a unilateral move, India revoked Bangladesh’s transshipment privileges for third-country exports via Indian territory—without any prior notice.

By forcibly expelling Bengali-speaking people and Rohingyas who have resided in its territory for an extended period, India is violating all relevant international laws, norms, and conventions.

Despite protests from Bangladesh, the continued killing of Bangladeshi citizens by BSF and the recent push-ins appear to be part of a broader policy of intimidation and pressure.

If India’s objective were to combat illegal infiltration, there would have been no need to blindfold and torture these individuals, including women and children, and abandon them in uninhabited terrain along the border. India and Bangladesh have several protocols in place for border management. Two key agreements are the Joint India-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities of the Two Countries (1975) and the India-Bangladesh Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) of 2011.

Under these protocols, all types of border issues, including human trafficking, can be resolved through dialogue. For instance, under the CBMP, nodal officers have been appointed by both the Indian BSF and the Bangladesh BGB to address issues such as illegal infiltration and human trafficking. Their responsibilities include initiating peaceful resolutions to border-related disputes and informing higher authorities when necessary. It is evident that unilaterally pushing large numbers of people into Bangladesh constitutes a violation of the CBMP.

Such forced expulsion is also illegal under international law and customary practice. Article 13 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that a person lawfully present in a country shall not be expelled without due process of law.

While this provision formally applies to legal residents, Article 12(4) affirms that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter their own country. According to the UN Human Rights Committee, this right extends even to those lacking legal documentation but who have long resided in a country. As both India and Bangladesh are signatories to the ICCPR, India is clearly violating the agreement by expelling Bengali-speaking individuals who have lived in India for many years.

Furthermore, Article 22 of the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families prohibits the expulsion of any migrant worker or their family members without due legal process. It explicitly forbids mass expulsions, requiring that each case be assessed individually before any decision is made.

Similarly, Article 4 of Protocol no. 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 22(9) of the American Convention on Human Rights, Article 12(5) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Article 26(1) of the Arab Charter on Human Rights all prohibit the mass expulsion of foreign nationals without due process. (Expulsions of Aliens in International Human Rights Law, OHCHR Discussion Paper, Geneva, 2006)

By forcibly expelling Bengali-speaking people and Rohingyas who have resided in its territory for an extended period, India is violating all relevant international laws, norms, and conventions.

Bangladesh should firmly protest these incidents through diplomatic channels and demand the repatriation of illegally pushed Indian nationals and registered Rohingya refugees through lawful procedures. At the same time, border surveillance must be enhanced to prevent such push-ins from recurring. If these illegal push-ins continue, Bangladesh should consider taking the issue to the United Nations.

* Kallol Mustafa, Writer and Researcher

** This article, originally published Prothom Alo Bangla edition, has been rewritten in English by Farjana Liakat​

 

[Saif]

India must stop border push-ins

India’s action violates international laws, bilateral agreements

www.thedailystar.net

India must stop border push-ins
India’s action violates international laws, bilateral agreements

VISUAL: STAR

India's unilateral push-in of around 300 individuals through various border areas of Bangladesh since May 7 is condemnable, as it violates diplomatic norms and established border management rules. Worryingly, it appears that the push-ins may continue. The BGB chief, in a recent briefing, said they learned about another 200 to 300 individuals who had been gathered on the other side of the Khagrachhari border, and that India's Border Security Force (BSF) is trying to push them into Bangladesh. Under the circumstances, the government has rightly demanded an immediate halt to these unilateral exercises by sending a protest letter to Delhi.

According to media reports, between May 7 and May 9, around 300 individuals were pushed in through areas such as Panchhari, Jamini Para, and Khedachhara in Khagrachhari; parts of Moulvibazar; the Roumari char regions of Kurigram; and Mandarbaria island in the Sundarbans. Among them were at least 39 people from the Rohingya community—some had previously been registered in Bangladesh's Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) camps but later crossed into India, while at least five were found holding UNHCR refugee cards issued from India. Three Indian nationals were also found among the pushed-in people. The rest are Bangladeshis who had migrated to India in the last 20–25 years; many have families and children who possess Indian nationality documents. While the BGB has taken steps to send the Bangladeshi nationals to their respective home districts through local administrations, the wider impact of such random push-ins cannot be overlooked.

It is expected that any return of such individuals would be carried out through proper channels, in line with established norms and regulations. But the way India is pushing people through remote, hard-to-patrol border points into Bangladesh violates the 1975 India-Bangladesh Joint Guidelines for border authorities, the 2011 Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP), and decisions made during director general-level talks between the BGB and BSF. India's actions on its eastern border also set a bad precedent for its relations with neighbouring countries, especially in light of the recent conflict on its western border. And with its ties with Bangladesh already strained since the 2024 July uprising, such unilateral push-ins may only worsen the situation. Most importantly, these actions threaten our border security, which is totally unacceptable.

We urge the government to strongly raise these issues with the Indian authorities, question why Rohingya people were sent to Bangladesh instead of Myanmar, and, most importantly, why proper procedures were not followed in India's actions. If necessary, the government must involve the international community to put an end to such actions.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh fears 'push-in', 'push-back' for 340 people from India

India's Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly pushed approximately 350 individuals into Bangladesh over the past two weeks, according to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources. This surge in cross-border movements coincides with heightened regional tensions following the Pahalgam incident in K

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh fears 'push-in', 'push-back' for 340 people from India
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
May 15, 2025 22:40
Updated :
May 15, 2025 22:40

India's Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly pushed approximately 350 individuals into Bangladesh over the past two weeks, according to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources.

This surge in cross-border movements coincides with heightened regional tensions following the Pahalgam incident in Kashmir, according to local media.

The BGB has detained 262 of these individuals, comprising 223 Bangladeshi nationals, 19 Rohingyas, and 20 whose identities remain unverified.

Additionally, the Bangladesh Coast Guard apprehended 78 individuals along the Satkhira border, including three Indian nationals by birth, bringing the total number of detainees to 340.

BGB officials have characterised these push-ins as "well-planned and despicable," asserting that the BSF is conducting them in remote, uninhabited areas to evade detection. Despite Bangladesh lodging formal protests and sending diplomatic notes to India, there has been little response from Delhi. In response, the BGB has intensified surveillance and patrols along the border to prevent further unauthorised entries.

The BGB has also indicated that, considering the circumstances, Bangladesh is contemplating reciprocal measures. These developments have raised concerns about border security and the need for effective bilateral communication to address the issue.​

 

[Saif]

BGB, locals foil BSF bid to push 750 people into Bangladesh along B'baria

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and locals have reportedly resisted an attempt by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to push 750 people into Bangladesh through the border in Brahmanbaria district early Friday. A tense situation prevailed along the borders between the frontier guards overnigh

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BGB, locals foil BSF bid to push 750 people into Bangladesh along B'baria

Published :
May 16, 2025 14:52
Updated :
May 16, 2025 14:52

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and locals have reportedly resisted an attempt by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to push 750 people into Bangladesh through the border in Brahmanbaria district early Friday.

A tense situation prevailed along the borders between the frontier guards overnight, said locals.

Sources said that Indian law enforcers have recently detained over 600 people in the state of Tripura and 148 in Rajasthan during a countrywide crackdown, with New Delhi claiming that most of them are Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, according to a UNB report.

The BSF reportedly took the detainees to a bordering area to push them into Bangladesh through the Singarbil border of Bijoynagar upazila of the district around 2:00 am.

Being informed, the BGB took position while locals also gathered along the border to resist the push-in.

Local union parishad member Mamun Chowdhury said the BSF was forced to go back when the BGB and locals took position along the border.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sadhana Tripura said, “The situation is now normal along the border. The push-in attempt by the BSF has been resisted by the BGB and locals. All remain on alert.”

Lt Col Jabbar Ahammed, commandant of the BGB-25 Battalion, said they took a cautious position after being informed about the possible push-in, and curious locals also gathered at the border.​

 

[Saif]

Home advisor downplays India's border ‘push-ins’

Amid rising instances of people being driven into Bangladesh across various borders from India, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said these “push-ins” do not necessarily exhibit provocative intentions by India as such incidents were common during his tenure as chief of the count

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Home advisor downplays India's border ‘push-ins’
bdnews24.com
Published :
May 17, 2025 16:42
Updated :
May 17, 2025 16:42

Amid rising instances of people being driven into Bangladesh across various borders from India, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said these “push-ins” do not necessarily exhibit provocative intentions by India as such incidents were common during his tenure as chief of the country's border security force.

Jahangir made the remarks in response to questions from reporters after inaugurating the third floating border outpost (BOP) at the confluence of Roymongol River and Boyesing Canal under Shyamnagar Upazila in Satkhira on Saturday.

On Sunday, India's Border Security Force (BSF) pushed a group of 78 “Bengali-speaking” across the border into Bangladesh and left them on Mandarbaria shoal in Satkhira before they were rescued by the Forest Department and later handed over to the local police station by the Coast Guard.

The newly set up BOP was located near the Indian border, about 20km from the Mandarbaria shoal.

“It [push-in] does not seem provocative. Since they have done this before, long ago, when I was DG [director general] BDR [now BGB]."

Jahangir was the chief of the now defunct BDR from January 2003 to February 2006.

Outlining steps he took when similar incidents had taken place while he was in charge of the paramilitary force, he said: “We have told them that if any Bangladeshis are in India, send them back through proper channels. There’s always a proper channel. I’ve also sent Indians who were in Bangladesh back through proper channels.

“But we do not push anyone in.”

Jahangir said a letter will be written to India to seek a diplomatic solution to put a stop to these incidents. He also said that he had spoken to Khalilur Rahman, the chief advisor’s top aide who is also the foreign affairs and national security advisor, about the matter.

On why these incidents are taking place, he said: “A few days ago, you heard that there was a colony in Gujarat, like a Bengali colony, a Bengali slum. They [Indian authorities] tore it down. What’s happening now began after that.”

Since then, the BGB has reported at least 370 people being pushed across various points of the border into Bangladesh by the BSF.

Jahangir also said a “protest letter” has been sent regarding the "push-in" of UNHCR cardholders across the border. “Some Rohingya people are also coming in. They were in our country and had left. [India] is also sending over Rohingya refugees. So we have sent a protest letter.”

On whether any action will be taken against illegal Indian nationals in Bangladesh, he said: “I will not say that there are no illegal Indians in Bangladesh either, but I request you to let us know if there are any, so that we can send them back through proper channels."

Jahangir firmly maintained that no citizens of Bangladesh would be “pushed back”.

“We have no right to push back [Bangladeshi citizens]. And about the illegal Indians, we will not push them back. We will send them through the proper channels.”

EFFORTS TO PREVENT “PUSH-INS”

Also present at the inauguration ceremony was BGB Director General (DG) Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui.

He said, "The areas where push-ins are mainly occurring are Beanibazar, Srimangal, Habiganj in Sylhet. Meanwhile, it is mainly happening in the shoal areas and remote places of Rowmari in Kurigram district, and to some extent in the uninhabited areas of the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

"We are trying to prevent this. To be honest, there were some push-ins this morning too. Since our border is so expansive, it is not possible to guard every spot. That is why we have sought the help of the people and we are also taking the help of the Ansar."

The foreign ministry announced an “all-out effort” by the BGB at the border, he said, adding that flag meetings, protest letters and other actions are in progress as well.

Turning to the issue of involving the public in these measures, he said: "If the locals also keep watch on those near their border and inform our patrols about any potential push-ins, they can quickly respond."

He also said that their patrols and manpower have been boosted and sought “information support” from the public.

On whether militants or criminals could possibly enter the country during these incidents, Ashrafuzzaman said: "Nothing can be ruled out. Everything is possible from all sides. However, we are trying to ensure strong security so that no harm comes to our country."​

 

[Saif]

India’s push-in strategy

DESPITE deep ties between Bangladesh and India in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia, India’s approach to border management has often been aggressive, escalating tensions with its neighbours. Recently, a complex diplomatic conflict has emerged over ‘push-in’ incidents along the...

www.newagebd.net

India’s push-in strategy
Mohammad Asaduzzaman 21 May, 2025, 00:00

The Department of Forest hands over a group of people to Bangladesh Coast Guard, allegedly pushed into the country by the Indian Border Security Force on May 10-11 through bordering Mandarbaria in Satkhira. | Focus Bangla photo

DESPITE deep ties between Bangladesh and India in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia, India’s approach to border management has often been aggressive, escalating tensions with its neighbours. Recently, a complex diplomatic conflict has emerged over ‘push-in’ incidents along the India-Bangladesh border, where Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) have been forcing people into Bangladeshi territory. This practice of pushing so-called undocumented Bangladeshis — and even Rohingyas and Indian nationals labelled as Bangladeshis — across the border reflects an aggressive aspect of India’s hegemonic stance. Is this merely a border security issue, or has it become a strategic political tool? The political motives behind India’s ‘push-in’ strategy, along with its diplomatic and humanitarian implications and the resulting challenges for Bangladesh, deserve scrutiny.

What is push-in and why is it concerning?

‘PUSH-IN’ refers to the forced repatriation of individuals into a country without following any legal or judicial process. What India perceives as a pushback is, from Bangladesh’s perspective, a push-in. According to international human rights and migration laws, this practice is controversial and considered unlawful. In the first half of May 2025 alone, around 300 individuals were reportedly pushed into Bangladesh by India — many of whom had been residing in Indian states like Gujarat and Rajasthan for years. Among them were Rohingyas and even Indian nationals. On the early morning of May 9, Indian authorities allegedly pushed 75 Bangladeshi Muslims and 3 Indian Muslims into Mandarbaria Char in the Sundarbans. This occurred amid heightened tensions following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, suggesting a deliberate act. India has employed this strategy previously along the borders of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. Recently, Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), stated that the BSF is systematically pushing Rohingya refugees and some Bangladeshi citizens into Bangladesh. Though India denies these allegations, the incidents are becoming increasingly alarming.

India’s strategic intent

INDIA’S push-in operations appear to be a calculated political and strategic pressure tactic. In the context of implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the issue of ‘illegal Bangladeshi immigrants’ continues to be politically weaponised. The CAA of 2019 offers citizenship to persecuted minorities from three Muslim-majority countries — Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan — who entered India before December 31, 2014. This law carries an implicit assumption that minorities in these countries are systematically oppressed, which undermines India’s secular character. The BJP government uses such tools to stoke nationalist sentiments. Through this push-in strategy, India may be subtly pressuring Bangladesh to ‘take back’ alleged undocumented Bangladeshis. However, under international law, no state can be forced to accept individuals against its will. Yet India continues to exert such pressure through indirect means.

BJP’s nationalist narrative and Bangladesh’s position

THE BJP and its Hindutva-aligned groups frequently raise the alarm over alleged illegal Muslim infiltration from Bangladesh, using it as a political device. The term ‘Bangladeshi infiltrator’ is portrayed as a serious social and cultural threat. Through this narrative, the government presents itself as taking a strong stance, where ‘patriotism’ is equated with strict border control and zero tolerance for infiltration. Consequently, the push-in policy becomes a tool for shaping public opinion. So far, Bangladesh has maintained a cautious and restrained stance. Each time such incidents occur, formal protests are lodged through the BGB and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, India typically denies any direct involvement and attempts to deflect blame. For Bangladesh, this is not just a humanitarian concern — it is also a diplomatic and national security challenge. Bangladesh is already burdened by international pressure and financial costs due to the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis. India’s push-in strategy only adds to the strain, triggering security threats in border areas and growing resentment among local communities.

Violation of international law

ACCORDING to the UN Refugee Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international migration policies, it is illegal to return refugees or asylum seekers without proper legal process forcibly. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol prohibit such actions under the principle of non-refoulement. Push-backs typically deny individuals the opportunity to apply for asylum, violating their right to due process as guaranteed under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Article 14 of the UDHR specifically states that everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum in another country. Moreover, under the Convention Against Torture, no individual may be returned to a country where they risk torture. The forced repatriation of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh further undermines India’s human rights record in the eyes of the international community. Rohingyas who fled Myanmar are not Bangladeshi citizens; if India wishes to return them, it should do so to Myanmar, not impose the burden on Bangladesh.

Consequences and possible solutions

IF THIS situation continues, it could seriously damage Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations. Prolonged tensions may escalate border conflicts and undermine regional cooperation on migration management, weakening South Asia’s image in global forums. What should be done? Both countries must pursue resolution through bilateral dialogue. Establishing a joint forum on migration and refugee issues could lead to a shared framework. Bangladesh could also raise the matter at the United Nations, especially regarding the forced relocation of Rohingya refugees. Domestically, Bangladesh must ensure strong border surveillance and accurate verification of identities through agencies like the BGB and the national ID/passport authority. Moreover, India should be held accountable to uphold international standards. A bilateral agreement is needed that focuses on shared humanitarian values and the rights of border communities, treating migration not as a political weapon but as a human issue.

Finally, India’s push-in operations are not merely border control measures; they represent a strategic manoeuvre in South Asia’s evolving geopolitical game. These actions serve as tools for nationalist politics on one hand, while simultaneously violating human rights and diplomatic norms on the other. This not only affects the physical border but also erodes the foundation of trust between the two countries. For Bangladesh, this is a strategic challenge requiring visionary foreign policy, internal cohesion, and global support. A shared approach rooted in humanity, not political expediency, must guide future border policies between the two nations.

Dr Mohammad Asaduzzaman is a professor of linguistics at the University of Dhaka and director general of International Mother Language Institute.​

 

[Saif]

Indian citizens must be taken back: Touhid Hossain

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that it is not clear yet on whether the people who have recently been 'pushed in' (forcibly sent) from India to Bangladesh will be “pushed back” (forcibly returned). However, those who are proven to be Indian citizens must be taken back, he added.

en.prothomalo.com

Indian citizens must be taken back: Touhid Hossain
Diplomatic Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 21 May 2025, 22: 06

Foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain Prothom Alo file photo

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that it is not clear yet on whether the people who have recently been 'pushed in' (forcibly sent) from India to Bangladesh will be “pushed back” (forcibly returned).

However, those who are proven to be Indian citizens must be taken back, he added.

The foreign adviser made these remarks in response to journalists' questions at the foreign ministry on Wednesday afternoon.

When asked whether the Indian citizens or Rohingyas pushed into Bangladesh would be pushed back, the adviser said, “So far, I have no clear decision on this matter. We generally do not carry out pushbacks. However, those who are proven to be Indian citizens must be taken back.”

Asked whether Bangladesh communicated with India to stop the push-ins, he said, “We are maintaining communication with Delhi and trying to ensure that nothing happens outside the rules.”

When asked how India responded, Touhid Hossain said, “We do not expect a response within a day. They have stated their position to some extent. We have explained our position to them—we are making it clear that such push-ins are not acceptable. We have told them that we have a standard operating procedure which we’ll follow. They have given us a list, and we are verifying those lists through the home ministry.”

Asked about reviewing the agreements signed with India, the adviser said, “Several minor agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed over time and those were shared with you as they happened. According to those agreements, they must be cancelled with mutual consent, or there may be provisions allowing cancellation if one party objects. We haven’t canceled any of them. We actually want everything to move forward according to the rules.”

The adviser mentioned that they are trying to identify Bangladesh's stance on the agreements with India and pinpoint where the problems lie. He stated that these issues would be discussed with India at the appropriate time.

When asked whether India is violating the rules, adviser Touhid Hossain responded, “Rules can be interpreted in many ways—sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. Altogether, we are trying to move forward accordingly. No one admits that they are violating the rules.”

In response to a question about whether there has been any communication with India regarding the halt in ready-made garment exports through Indian land ports, the adviser said that a letter is being sent about the matter, and the commerce adviser is handling it.​