United News of Bangladesh

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has urged citizens to extend cooperation by sharing information to prevent the infiltration of illegal firearms into the country. A number of vested groups have been attempting to smuggle firearms across the border in recent months with the ill motive of destabilising the law and order situation in the country, according to BGB. The paramilitary force has seized a staggering cache of weapons in the past three months alone, it said.  These include 16 local and foreign pistols, two revolvers, two submachine guns, five rifles, 16 homemade guns, three shotguns, three mortar shells, eight hand grenades, 27 other types of weapons, 21 magazines, and 1,003 rounds of ammunition. Bangladesh Election: Intelligence-based crackdown planned as police seek missing weapons Officials of the BGB headquarters  said intelligence surveillance and operational activities have been intensified in border areas to check the entry of such illegal arms. Seeking people’s active role in combating this threat BGB has opened a dedicated toll free  hotline – 01769600555 – where citizens can share information confidentially, said BGB headquarters public relations officer Shariful Islam.  Stopping the influx of illegal weapons is not just a security issue it’s a matter of national interest, he said.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly pushed 15 more people into Bangladesh through Achintopur border of Dinajpur district early Friday. Those pushed include three men, three women and nine children. Md Rafiqul Islam, commandant of Achintopur Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp in Biral upazila, which falls under the jurisdiction of the BGB-57 Battalion, said while patrolling the border the BGB members noticed these people wandering inside the border. BGB foils Indian BSF’s attempts to push in 57 People into Bangladesh’s Lalmonirhat Later, they were detained and brought to the camp, he said, adding that legal action will be taken against them accordingly. Quoting the detainees, the BGB official said that they were pushed through the Achintopur.

Fifty-nine more people including women and children were pushed into Bangladesh allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) through Habiganj, Sylhet and Khagrachhari borders early Monday. In Sylhet, twenty-one people including women and children were pushed into Bangladesh allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) through Kamalganj border in Moulvibazar district early Monday. The BGB members detained them while entering into the country around 7:45am through the Materbol border area in Madhabpur union of Kamalganj upazila. The detainees include seven men, six women, and eight children. According to BGB sources, upon verification, it was found that all 21 individuals are residents of Kurigram district.  Quad FMs, wary of China's might, push Indo-Pacific option Commanding officer of BGB-46 Battalion Lieutenant Colonel ASM Zakaria, said the individuals will be handed over to Kamalganj Police Station for further legal procedures. Earlier on May 7, BSF pushed in 15 Bangladeshis, including women and children, through the Doloi border in Kamalganj. With this latest incident, a total of 36 people have been pushed into Bangladesh and detained by BGB in May alone. In Habiganj, nineteen more people including women and children were pushed into Bangladesh  by BSF through Kalenga border in Chunarughat upazila of the district early Monday. Zakaria Ibne Quader, in-charge of Kalenga BGB, said  the BSF members pushed them around 7:30 am though the border and they were detained by the BGB members. In Khagrachari, nineteen people. including women and children, were pushed into Bangladesh by BSF through Khagrachhari border early Monday morning. The BSF members pushed them around 3:30am through the Feni River while BGB took them under their custody and kept them at a local government primary school.  India to continue rebel peace accord push in troubled areas Matiranga Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Manjurul Alam said they were verifying the identities of the detainees and they will be sent to their respective area after confirmation of their identities. With these, the BSF has so far pushed 104 people into the country in the current month through borders in Khagrachari.

India continues to push people into Bangladesh, labeling them as Bangladeshi nationals, through several border points, including Satkhira, Kurigram, Khagrachhari and Moulvibazar, raising serious concerns among local residents and authorities. According to local officials and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), several such incidents have been reported in recent weeks. On Wednesday, Khagrachhari’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana said 80 Indian nationals, including women and children, crossed into Bangladesh through Matiranga and Panchhari upazilas. In response, the BGB has intensified patrols to prevent further illegal entry. BGB sources said the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed 29 people through the Shantipur border and another 19 through Achalong Para in Taindong Union. Besides, 32 people were forced across the Ruposhi Para border in Panchhari upazila. Reports also indicate that BSF is gathering more Indian nationals in parts of Tripura for possible future push-ins. 'Push-ins': BGB patrols strengthen along Feni border In Kurigram, BGB members detained 44 people from border areas in Roumari and Bhurungamari upazilas early Wednesday. According to Lutfur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Roumari Police Station, 30 of them were pushed in through different points along the Roumari border—22 of whom are suspected to be Rohingya. BGB is currently verifying the identities of the detainees. Following these incidents, BGB has ramped up patrols along the Feni border and intensified intelligence operations across all sensitive areas. UNB’s Khulna correspondent reported that a group of 78 people, allegedly pushed in by the Indian Navy through the Mandarbaria area of the Satkhira range in the western Sundarbans on Friday, were transported to Mongla on Sunday aboard the Bangladesh Coast Guard vessel Swadhin Bangla. Due to limited capacity, some were carried in a wooden trawler, officials said. The group is expected to reach Mongla by midday. Quoting sources from the Coast Guard, BGB and Forest Department, officials said during preliminary questioning, the group said they were dropped near the Mandarbaria forest patrols post in Shyamnagar upazila late Friday night by the Indian Navy. As they failed to present valid Indian citizenship documents, they were reportedly pushed into Bangladesh. No fresh ‘push-in’ reported along Khagrachari border: DC The Sundarbans Forest Division has provided them with food and temporary assistance. Responding to the reported push-ins, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday said any repatriation should occur through formal diplomatic channels. “This needs to be done formally,” he told reporters when asked about the push-in incidents. "This needs to be done in a formal channel," he said when a journalist wanted to know his comments referring to media reports. "We are examining each case separately. Our decision is we will receive only if there is proof that they are Bangladeshi citizens," he added. Khalilur Rahman said such push-ins are not the right approach, stressing the importance of using formal channels. When asked whether Dhaka will convey this to New Delhi, he said they are already trying to contact the Indian government in this regard.

Deputy Commissioners (DCs) on Tuesday recommended deployment of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel in a greater number in the country’s frontier areas to bolster national security in addition to enhanced security measures for waterways. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said this while briefing reporters at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. The briefing followed the third-day session of the Deputy Commissioners' Conference, which included discussions under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture. DCs propose military training for Bangladeshi youths “In our session, the primary focus was on improving law and order and advancing the agricultural sector. The Deputy Commissioners suggested increasing the deployment of BGB personnel along border areas, strengthening waterway security through a higher presence of river police, and augmenting manpower in Gazipur Metropolitan and Industrial Police units. We are reviewing these matters with great importance and have assured necessary consideration,” said Jahangir Alam. He said that the overall law-and-order situation remains satisfactory but has room for improvement. “Law enforcement operations are progressively enhancing security. To ensure continued progress, ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ is being conducted across the country,” he added. Highlighting corruption as the nation’s most pressing issue, Jahangir Alam said, “If corruption is not eradicated at its roots, the country’s desired progress will remain unachievable. It is essential to curb corruption at all levels. Accordingly, instructions have been given to the Deputy Commissioners.” DCs asked to bring doctors, traders in upazilas under tax net: Finance Adviser Chaired by Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, the session was addressed, among others, by Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. Among other attendees were Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam BPM, and heads of various departments and agencies under both ministries.

Bangladesh will engage in talks with India to address unfair agreements signed during the previous Awami League regime, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said. He made the remarks while speaking to the media on the upcoming Director General (DG)-level border conference between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) at the ministry’s conference room on Wednesday. “Permission is required from both sides to erect any structure within 150 yards of the border. There are no provisions allowing unilateral actions, and approval from both countries is necessary to build a mosque or temple. This will be prioritised to ensure that India seeks permission before carrying out any activities,” he stated. Read: Bangladesh, Myanmar agree to strongly deal with cross-border issues Jahangir Alam said that key issues, including the prevention of border killings by the BSF or Indian miscreants, firing on unarmed Bangladeshi citizens, and injuries along the border, will be raised at the conference. Other topics for discussion include trespassing by BSF personnel or Indian citizens, smuggling of illegal drugs, arms, ammunition and explosives, including Yaba and Phensedyl, into Bangladesh, the adviser added. Besides, the talks will cover equitable water sharing of transboundary rivers, withdrawal of water, implementation of the water agreement, and the reopening of the Rahimpur canal mouth. He also said that drugs are frequently produced along the border areas in India and pushed into Bangladesh.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Tuesday arrested an Indian national along with 18 gold bars from Mujibnagar bordering area in Meherpur district. The arrestee was identified as Nur Hossain, 48, son of Sonai Sheikh of India’s Nadia district. Tipped off, a team of BGB-6 Battalion of Chuadanga conducted a drive in Mujibnagar filed near 104/5 no pillar around 10:30 am and arrested Nur while he was trying to flee the scene sensing the presence of the border guards, said Commanding officer of BGB-6 Lieutenant Colonel Syed Mohammad Zahidur Rahman. Bangladeshi man injured in BSF firing along Patgram border Later, the BGB men recovered 18 gold bars worth Tk 2 crore kept in three packets. A case was filed with Mujibnagar Police Station. The seized gold bars were deposited to the Meherpur Treasury office.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have detained 58 Rohingyas, including women, children, and elderly individuals, during an illegal entry attempt through the Buchitong border in Alikadam Upazila’s Nayapara Union, Bandarban. The operation was conducted by the Alikadam Battalion in the early hours of Saturday. According to police and local sources, the detentions were made following a tip-off about Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar with assistance from several Bangladeshi nationals. Acting on the information, BGB personnel launched a raid in the border area and held the group at around 4am. They were intercepted while being transported on a truck, a private car, and several motorcycles. Besides, five people accused of facilitating the illegal crossing were also detained during the operation. Saving lives must be first priority, says UNHCR as more Rohingya flee by sea Legal proceedings against them are underway, and cases are being prepared at Alikadam Police Station. The Rohingyas, meanwhile, are expected to be pushed back to Myanmar as part of the authorities' ongoing efforts to prevent illegal crossings. Alikadam Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Mirza Zahid Uddin, confirmed receiving information about the detainees but said that no case had yet been filed. “Appropriate measures will be taken once the case is lodged,” he added. The attempted crossings come amidst a protracted conflict in Myanmar, where disputes between the government and rebel groups have intensified, forcing many Rohingyas to flee the region in search of safety. Bangladeshi authorities have been vigilant in monitoring the border and check the influx of refugees and maintain security.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled Indian goods worth over Tk 94 lakh along the borders in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. The frontier force also seized a pickup van and a microbus during the drives which continued from 12 am on Tuesday to early Wednesday. However, no one could be detained in this connection, said a media release sent from the BGB-48 Battalion on Wednesday morning. Being tipped-off, several teams of the BGB conducted drives along Banglabazar, Panthumai, Sreepur, and Sonalichela areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts and recovered the smuggled items. Read: BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 147.84 cr in Dec The suspected smugglers left the vehicles abandoned after hearing the drives of the BGB. The recovery includes Indian sugar, oranges, betel nut, liquor and others, the media release says. The drives against smuggling will continue and security has been beefed up along borders, added the release.

Reminding the responsibility of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGBB), Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that this force will have to be strong and fearless to protect every inch of the border and stop smuggling. He made the remark while speaking at the ‘BGB Day-2024’ at the Border Conference Centre of the BGB in Dhaka’s Pilkhana on Monday. Urging the BGB personnel to carry out duty as vigilant guard, he said the frontier force has been performing several duties, including maintaining law and order inside the country, assisting the civil administration, accidents, natural disasters and emergency along with guarding the borders. Recalling the role of the then BDR during the Liberation War, he said the BGB is a disciplined force with the glory of valor and tradition and their patriotism, honesty and unwavering morale are the biggest tolls in severing the country. Read: BDR families demand renaming of BGB, justice for mutiny victims The home adviser also said that the success of a well-disciplined force depends on truthfulness and establishing a chain of command at every level.