Moulvibazar district shares a 271-kilometer border with India. Among that, Barlekha Upazila alone has a 40-kilometer stretch of hilly border. The land route from here to Myanmar is 368 kilometers, passing through the Indian states of Assam and Manipur. Because it lies at the junction of three countries, this border is considered geopolitically significant. According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), a total of 380 people were pushed into Bangladesh across the Moulvibazar border a span of 28 days, from May 7 to June 3. Most of them entered through the Pallathal border in Barlekha. During the same period, at least 1,287 people were pushed into Bangladesh through around 20 different points along the country’s borders. Unofficial counts suggest the actual number is even higher. Some of those pushed in were identified as citizens of Myanmar and India. Experts say that continued unauthorized push-ins pose a security risk for border management.
After Moulvibazar, Khagrachhari ranks second in terms of the number of push-ins, with 132 people entering through its border. Other significant numbers include 115 through Sylhet, 93 through Kurigram, and 85 through Lalmonirhat. In addition, 78 people entered through the dense forest of Mandarbaria in the Sundarbans, while 50 entered through Habiganj, 16 through Sunamganj, 13 through Cumilla, and 52 through Feni. Push-ins were also reported through Mymensingh (22), Thakurgaon (32), Panchagarh (55), Dinajpur (15), Chapainawabganj (25), Kushtia (9), Meherpur (30), Chuadanga (19), Jhenaidah (23), and Satkhira (23).
According to police and local residents, Moulvibazar shares 271 kilometers of border with India. Of this, Sreemangal accounts for 49 kilometers, Kamalganj 73, Kulaura 43, Juri 64, and Barlekha 40 kilometers. Most of the border includes hilly areas, making push-ins relatively easier. Among the five Upazilas, Barlekha has seen the highest number of push-ins—of the total 380 individuals pushed in, 276 entered through different parts of the Barlekha border. Due to the terrain of small and large hills, people are being pushed in while avoiding surveillance.
In one such instance, BGB’s New Pallathal BOP patrol team, with help from locals, detained 13 individuals pushed in by BSF. Among them were four men, three women, and six children. Locals believe they are part of the Rohingya community. Earlier, on the night of May 24, BSF pushed in 121 people through Barlekha’s Pallathal border. BGB detained them and handed them over to the police after verifying their identities. Later, the police released them into the custody of their families. Abul Kashem Sarkar, Officer-in-Charge of Barlekha Police Station, told Bonik Barta, “Those whom BGB handed over to us, we released them into family custody after confirming their identities.”
According to human rights activists, push-in is not only a violation of human rights, but it also affects diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. When a country uses its border security forces to forcibly send individuals into another country, it amounts to a disrespect of that country’s sovereignty. Such actions can trigger a lack of trust between the two nations and deteriorate bilateral ties. India and Bangladesh share a historically and strategically significant relationship. Since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year, ties between Bangladesh and India have been strained, with visa suspension, withdrawal of transshipment privileges, and import restrictions. Push-in has now emerged as yet another sign of this tension. Such distance could potentially lead to heightened tensions along the border. Human rights activists say that these acts of push-in must be stopped immediately through diplomatic discussions.
ASM Nasiruddin Elan, a human rights activist and member of the Police Reform Commission, told Bonik Barta, “With the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government following the student-led mass uprising, the aggression of the Indian ruling elite also fell. This was something India’s ruling group couldn’t accept. At first, they tried to create tension by spreading different types of propaganda. But when those narratives didn’t gain credibility internationally, they resorted to push-in. One thing to note is that those being pushed in across the border are all Muslims. They haven’t pushed in any Hindus or followers of other religions so far. We’ve seen that many of the Muslims being pushed in have ancestral ties to India, and now their relatives are being sent to Bangladesh. To get out of this situation, the first step must be an international-level campaign. Alongside that, regular diplomatic dialogue is needed to stop the push-in.”
Colonel Mohammad Shariful Islam, BGB’s Deputy Director General (Media), told Bonik Barta, “Regular patrols and surveillance have been increased in various border areas to prevent push-ins. We are also trying to stop such incidents by raising awareness among local communities. Overall, BGB is playing an effective role in preventing push-ins along the border.”