The Border Guard Bangladesh and local residents said they resisted an attempt by India’s Border Security Force to push nine people, including two children and women, into Bangladesh through the Kurigram border early Sunday. Separately, BGB reported preventing a second push-in of 11 people at the Chuadanga border.

The Kurigram incident occurred around 6:40 am when the BSF brought the group from its Jhalur Char camp to the border at Goytapara in Roumari upazila. As of late morning, the nine individuals remained roughly 50 yards inside Indian territory, local sources said.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh Goytapara camp moved to high alert and local residents and public representatives stepped up surveillance alongside them to prevent any push-in. “There has been concern in recent times over attempts to push people illegally into Bangladesh through the border, so we are maintaining a vigilant position at Goytapara,” said local union council member Sona Mia.

BGB Havildar Masud Rana confirmed the situation and said patrols had been reinforced in the area to prevent any untoward incident. BGB sources said the force was monitoring the situation closely and would resist any attempt to bring people into Bangladesh in violation of international border law.

Meanwhile, BGB patrols prevented another alleged push-in of 11 people, including eight men and three women, through the Darshana-Gede border in Chuadanga around 4 am Sunday. The group was left near the barbed-wire fence at the border, though their subsequent whereabouts were not known.

Lieutenant Colonel Nazmul Hasan, director and commanding officer of BGB Battalion 6 in Chuadanga, confirmed the push-in attempt had been resisted. He said BGB patrols, intelligence surveillance and operational activities were continuing to counter push-ins and other border-related irregular activities.