Kolkata, June 8 (IANS) The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been accused of obstructing the return of Bangladeshi nationals to their country. As a result, after remaining stranded at the zero line along the India-Bangladesh border for two days, around 10 Bangladeshi nationals were brought back to a holding centre in Jalpaiguri district on Monday.

It is learnt that the Bangladeshi nationals were stopped when they attempted to cross the border fencing and return to Bangladesh over the past two days.

It has also been alleged that the 10 Bangladeshi nationals were prevented from entering their country by BGB personnel.

After waiting for two days at the zero line amid sun and rain, the Border Security Force (BSF) brought them to Kotwali Police Station on Monday. The police later shifted them to the holding centre at the Jalpaiguri Regional Training Centre.

A group of 10 Bangladeshi nationals had been stranded at Joypur Zero Point beyond the border fence along the India-Bangladesh border.

Despite being Bangladeshi citizens, they were allegedly not allowed to enter Bangladesh.

On Monday morning, the BSF detained the Bangladeshi nationals from the border area.

The 10 people, including members of two families, were brought to the holding centre.

The detained Bangladeshi nationals are Mohammad Abdul Salam (38), his wife Yasmin (30), and their son Mohammad Irfan Islam (6), residents of Benapole in Jessore district of Bangladesh.

Among the others, Mehendi Hasan (31) is a resident of Kushtia district.

Also among those detained are four persons from Kanopalli in Chittagong. They are Shamsul Alam (46), his wife Taslima Akhtar (30), their son Mohammad Sahin (10), and daughter Sahima Akhtar (10).

In addition, Usman, a resident of Satkhira district, and Mohammad Munna, a resident of Khulna district, were also brought to the holding centre by the BSF’s 39 Battalion under the Radhabari-Siliguri sector.

According to Kotwali Police Station officials, the 10 Bangladeshi nationals will remain at the holding centre for the time being and will be sent back to Bangladesh in accordance with legal procedures.

Citizens from different districts of Bangladesh had allegedly entered India illegally and were residing in different parts of the country.

After the recent change of government in West Bengal, the new government adopted a strict stance against illegal infiltrators.

Since then, there has reportedly been an increase in the number of Bangladeshi nationals seeking to return home.

However, some of them allegedly faced obstacles from the BGB while attempting to return.

The BSF had earlier escorted these Bangladeshi nationals to the Berubari border for their return to Bangladesh.

However, personnel of the BGB’s 56 Battalion, which is responsible for the border area in Bangladesh’s Panchagarh district, allegedly prevented them from entering the country.

Berubari Gram Panchayat Deputy Chief Dilip Kumar Das said: “We want the Central and state governments to take the initiative to send illegal Bangladeshis back to Bangladesh. But the Bangladesh government does not want its citizens to return. After being stranded at Zero Point for two days, the BSF has brought them to the holding centre. We want them to be sent back to their country.”

–IANS

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