Indian border guards attempted to push 17 people, including women and children, across the border into Bangladesh before retreating early Saturday after an 18-hour confrontation with Bangladeshi forces, a Border Guard Bangladesh commander said.

The group — six men, six women and five children — was brought to the zero line near pillar 238/MP at Hapania border in Naogaon’s Sapahar sub-district around 7.30 am on Friday by members of India’s Pannachhara BSF camp, according to the BGB and local residents. BGB troops stationed at the site blocked the entry, forcing the group to remain in no man’s land through the day and evening.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commander of BGB’s Naogaon Battalion-16, said patrols were reinforced as soon as the attempt was detected. “On humanitarian grounds we initially allowed them to stay at the zero line, but after evening they were moved into no man’s land,” he said. “Around 1 am, the BSF switched off the border floodlights and, we believe, abandoned the push-in attempt and took them back into India.”

Local resident Mahbub Alam said he saw BGB personnel on guard near the site late at night. “Later, in the dead of night, BSF members took the 17 people back towards India. They didn’t want to go — they were crying,” he said.

The BGB commander said surveillance and patrols in the area remained in place.