Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) this morning detained at least 123 individuals, including Rohingyas and Bangla-speaking individuals, after India pushed them into Bangladesh through Kurigram and Khagrachhari border points.
BGB currently has them in its custody and is verifying their identities. It has also issued a high alert along the border and lodged a strong protest note with Border Security Force (BSF) advising against such "push-in", said BGB Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui.
Flag meetings with the BSF have also been called at various levels.
Meanwhile, the Police Headquarters alerted the superintendents of police in 31 bordering districts to ensure that national security is not compromised amid the escalation of the India-Pakistan conflict.
"Dhaka is trying to establish contact with New Delhi on the reported push-ins of people from India through the Indo-Bangladesh borders in Kurigram and Khagrachhari," said National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman today.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry, he said Bangladesh authorities are verifying each of the cases separately.
"If they are identified as citizens of Bangladesh, we will accept them. This will have to be done in a formal channel. Pushing them in is not the way."
THE DETAINEES
Of the total, 44 people, including 35 Rohingyas, were detained from Roumari and Bhurungamari upazilas of Kurigram.
BGB officials said 30 were held in Roumari and 14 in Bhurungamari.
Lutfur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Roumari Police Station, told UNB that of the 30 people who were pushed into Bangladesh from India through various border points in Roumari, it is believed that 22 of them are Rohingyas.
Lt Col Hasanur Rahman, commanding officer of 35 BGB Battalion, said the detainees' identities are being verified. "Necessary steps will be taken after confirmation."
In Bhurungamari, 14 Rohingyas, including women and children, were detained from the Bhawalkuri border, said Lt Col Md Mahbub ul Haque, CO of Kurigram 22 BGB Battalion.
Meanwhile in Khagrachhari, at least 79 more Bangla-speaking individuals were detained after they were pushed in through three border points.
Of them, 27 were detained at the Shantipur border in Matiranga upazila, 22 at the Taitong border in Dighinala upazila, and 30 at the Panchhari border in Panchhari upazila.
Talking with this newspaper, Abu Taher, a resident of Shantipur, said he sheltered one of those who came from India. "I was told they were flown from Gujarat to Agartala and then forcibly pushed across the border.
"At that time, BSF members allegedly told them to never come back, or else they would be shot."
Nazmun Ara Sultana, acting deputy commissioner of Khagrachhari, said, "BGB is monitoring the situation; all of them are currently under BGB custody. The local administration is in close coordination with the BGB."
BORDER ON ALERT
BGB Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui told The Daily Star today, "Some Bangla-speaking people have illegally entered Bangladesh from India, and BGB has taken them into custody.
"These people do not have any IDs or passports. Their identities are being verified. After verification, appropriate action will be taken in coordination with police.
"We have lodged a strong protest note with BSF and told them not to undertake any such 'push-in'. Flag meetings have been called at various levels, too.
"We have also asked the home and foreign ministries to communicate with the Indian authorities concerned. We have strengthened border security and enhanced surveillance. We are on high alert and maintaining vigilance, too."
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baharul Alam, said, "Our borders are indeed very porous, so this kind of possibility is always there. In light of the ongoing conflict [India and Pakistan], we have already issued warnings to the superintendents of police in the 31 border districts, including those along the Indian and Myanmar borders."
He was speaking with reporters after a programme in the capital's Gulshan today.
"We will make every possible effort to ensure that our national security is not compromised in any way as a result of this."
[Our correspondents in Chattogram and Lalmonirhat also contributed to this report.]