Tensions flared along the Kochakata border in Kurigram on Friday night after India鈥檚 Border Security Force allegedly attempted to push a group of people into Bangladeshi territory, BGB officials said.
They said members of Border Guard Bangladesh and local residents foiled the attempt.
Local sources said the incident occurred at the Shovarkuti and Shiperhat border points in Kedar Union under the Kochakata border area.
Several hundred villagers formed a human barricade stretching nearly one kilometre along the border and kept vigil throughout the night to prevent any illegal entry.
According to witnesses, at around 7:00pm, BSF personnel from Golakganj Police Station in Assam鈥檚 Dhubri district gathered 50 to 60 people at a school near the Indian border village of Faiskarkuti, adjacent to Bangladesh.
With all lights in the area turned off, BSF allegedly tried to push the group across the border under cover of darkness.
Local villagers quickly mobilised and took positions along the border. Shortly afterwards, multiple teams from the Kochakata and Kedar camps of BGB-22, supported by Ansar and VDP personnel, arrived to reinforce security and block any illegal infiltration.
BSF troops positioned themselves on the Indian side of the border and by around 2:00am advanced to the zero line.
Sources reported that BSF attempted to initiate dialogue with BGB several times, but BGB personnel did not respond.
By 3:00am, BSF troops withdrew from the zero line.
Lieutenant Colonel Mahbub Ul Haque, commanding officer of BGB-22, said, 鈥楤GB, along with Ansar forces and local residents, jointly maintained strict vigilance to prevent any illegal push-in attempts by BSF. We have intensified border patrols.鈥�
Authorities have maintained heightened security measures in the area since the incident.
