The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday took back 12 people, including women and children, from the Pragpur border in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia three days after they were pushed into Bangladesh.

The handover took place around 11:00am following a flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the BSF near border pillar 148/3-S at Pragpur, said Lt Col Rashed Kamal Rony, commanding officer of Kushtia 47 BGB.

According to BGB sources, a delegation, led by Deputy Commanding Officer Nurul Huda, represented the BGB at the meeting, while the BSF team was led by Raninagar Company Commander AC Sunil Kumar Yadav.

BGB officials said the BSF pushed the 12 people into Bangladesh through the Pragpur border around 5:30am on Friday.

With assistance from local residents, BGB personnel identified the group and took them under their custody.

Although a flag meeting was scheduled for that day, it did not take place. Another meeting was held on Saturday near border pillar 150/3-S at Bilgatua, but no final decision was reached.

During that meeting, the BSF denied the allegation of any push-in through the Daulatpur border and initially refused to take the group back.

Following a formal protest lodged by the BGB, the BSF sought time to investigate the matter.

BGB sources said the 12 people remained on the zero line for three days and suffered from illness and hardship after staying under the open sky in extreme heat.

Rashed Kamal said the BGB remains on the highest alert to safeguard the border and will take necessary steps to protect the country's interests.