A member of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) died and another was injured as a motorbike carrying them crashed into a roadside tree while chasing smugglers in Benapole on Tuesday night. The deceased was Mozamel Hossian, 45, and the injured was Delwar Hossain, 44. Sources said that both the BGB men started to follow some suspected smugglers being informed that they had been staying at Baropota Bazar with a consignment of drugs imported from India on Wednesday night. Two killed in Rajshahi road accident At one stage the motorbike lost control and hit a roadside tree in Ahmed Bride area around 8:30pm, leaving them critically injured, they said. They were rushed to Sharsha Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared Mozammel dead upon arrival, said Lt. Col Khurshid Anowar, commandant of the BGB-21 Battalion. Injured Delwar was sent to Jashore General Hospital, he added.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large quantity of smuggled Indian goods, including readymade shirt pieces and cosmetics, along India border in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj on Thursday night. The seized products include 5, 127 pieces of readymade shirts, 156 metres of pant fabric, 1, 296 metres of blazer fabric, 20, 430 metres of Punjabi fabric and 9, 000 bottles of Sunrise cream. Lt. Col AKM Zakaria Qadir, commandant of the BGB-28 Battalion in Sunamganj, said a patrol team recovered the products abandoned in Charagaon area under Sreepur union of the upazila, 200 yards off the border. BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 170.18 cr in Feb The market price of the goods was estimated around Tk 2 crore and 92, 500, he said. Drives against smuggling will continue, the BGB official said, assuming that the smugglers brought the items from India ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have detained an Indian national for allegedly trespassing into Bangladesh through Cumilla border. The detainee Shaon Karmakar, 37, is a resident of Kashipur Mission Road in Khayerpur upazila of West Tripura, India, said Lt. Col AM Zahid Parvez, commander of BGB’s Cumilla-10 Battalion. According to the BGB, Shaon was caught late Sunday night inside Bangladesh’s territory, around 20 yards off the border in the Keraninagar area. Two Indian nationals arrested in B’baria During the detention, BGB personnel seized an Indian Aadhaar card, a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card, and a State Bank Classic Visa card from him. A case was filed against him at Kotwali Model Police Station and he was handed over to the police for further action, according to the BGB.

Bangladesh and India have agreed to take concrete measures to eliminate border killings, strengthen security and enhance cooperation on cross-border issues, following the 55th Border Conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF). The four-day conference (February 17 to 20) in New Delhi, saw a 13-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by BGB Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, engage in discussions with the Indian delegation, headed by BSF Director General Shri Daljit Singh Chawdhary, according to a BGB media release. During the meeting, the BGB chief expressed deep concern over the killings of Bangladeshi citizens along the border and urged BSF to take necessary measures to bring the incidents down to zero. Bangladesh, India want effective border management without any killing In addition, the BSF was requested to inform the appropriate authorities about the construction and renovation of embankments along the banks to prevent erosion of the border river and the unexpected floods caused by opening the embankments upstream in Bangladesh and releasing water without prior notice, said the release. The BGB DG stressed the effective implementation of the ‘Integrated Border Management Plan’ to ensure peace, order and security along the border. In response, BSF reiterated its commitment to a non-lethal policy while upholding human rights and pledged continued cooperation to curb border crimes, including drug trafficking and smuggling. Key outcomes of the conference In order to reduce the incidents of shooting/killing/injuring/beating of unarmed citizens on the border to zero, both sides agreed to intensify joint patrols in vulnerable areas, exchange intelligence promptly, undertake awareness campaigns among border communities and implement socio-economic development initiatives. Any killings along the border will be thoroughly investigated, with necessary measures taken. Dhaka, Delhi eye "good working relations" addressing problems Any construction within 150 yards of the border, including fences and bunkers, will require prior inspection and approval by a joint verification team. Development projects stalled within this zone will be resolved through mutual consultation. Both forces committed to strengthening cooperation in preventing smuggling, particularly of drugs such as Phensedyl, Yaba and cannabis, as well as human trafficking, gold smuggling, illegal weapons trade, and circulation of counterfeit currency. Real-time intelligence sharing was also agreed upon. Both sides will take measures to prevent misunderstandings and tensions caused by illegal border crossings, increasing surveillance and awareness campaigns to prevent unauthorised movements. Stronger efforts will be made to dismantle human trafficking networks, with a focus on the rescue and rehabilitation of victims in accordance with national laws. Besides, establishment of suitable water treatment plants to remove waste water from 4 border canals flowing from Agartala to Akhaura; opening of Rahimpur canal mouth with Kushiyara River in Zakiganj; fruitful discussions were held on the possible location of regional separatist armed terrorist groups and their activities, the release added. EU wants Bangladesh to succeed in its transition from “autocracy to democracy” Both sides praised the implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and pledged to continue collaborative efforts. Plans were also made to conduct joint sports events and a ‘Joint Retreat Ceremony’ to foster mutual trust and cooperation.  

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have seized arms, ammunition, drugs and other contraband items worth Tk 162.52 crore during anti-smuggling drives across the country, especially in bordering areas in the month of January. During the period, the paramilitary force seized 4.1369 kgs of gold, 4.529 kgs of silver, 210 grams of diamond,  3,05,820 cosmetics items, 1,037 imitations jewelry, 10,187 sarees, 3,995 three-piece/shirt-piece/bed-sheet/blankets, 2,698 meter unstitched fabric, 7,288 readymade garments, 9,65,461 firecrackers, 4,350 cft timber, 4,262 kgs of tea leaves, 15,665 kgs of betel nuts, 4,20,352 kgs of sugar, 2,356 kgs of fertilizer, 2,641 packets of seeds, 82, 125 kgs of coal, 730 cubic feet stones, 1,602 mobile displays, 49,500 glasses, 1,07,225 kgs fruits, 30,837 kgs of garlic, 19,495 kg of cumin, one touchstone statue, nine trucks, twelve pickups, four private cars/microbuses, two trolleys, 43 boats, 34 CNG/easybikes, 53 motorcycles and 19  bicycles, said a BGB media release signed by its Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam Sunday. BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 147.84 cr in Dec The seized weapons consist of three pistols, two air guns, one rifle, one magazine, one auto-air rifle, one shot gun and 24 rounds of ammunition. The seized drugs and narcotics include 14, 89, 270 pieces of Yaba tablets, 2.130 kgs of crystal meth ice, 8.09 kgs of heroin, 426 grams of cocaine, 28,500 bottles of Phensidyl, 18,655 bottles of foreign liquor, 181 liters of Bengal liquor, 498 cans of beer, 1,760 kg of cannabis, 1, 77, 917 packets of cigarettes, 48,835 narcotic tablets/injections, 4,642 bottles of Iscaf syrup,  609 bottles of Mkdil/Cofidil, 7,69,372 different types of medicine and  92,464 Enegra/Senegra tablets, according to the release. Meanwhile, legal action has been initiated against 163 alleged smugglers, 308 Bangladeshi nationals and 18 Indian citizens for illegally crossing the border during this period. Besides, 1,538 Myanmar nationals have been repatriated following their detention, according to the press release.    

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained three Bangladeshis including a child and a broker for attempting to infiltrate into India along  Muhurijot border in Panchagarh district.  They were detained late Friday, Nilphamari 56 BGB said in a press release.  The detainees were Nitai Chandra Roy, 35, of Alampur village in Thakurgaon Sadar, his seven-year-old daughter Bhumi Rani Shreya and Saddam Hossain, 30, of Shibchandi area in Tetulia upazila. Saddam Hossain attempted to facilitate their illegal entry into India, the BGB said.  Tipped off, members of Magurmari BOP under the 56th BGB Battalion, conducted a drive and detained them. The BGB members  also seized a barbed wire cutter, two mobile phone sets, a pair of silver rings, and Tk 20,160 in cash from their possession. BSF erects electric pillars along Bangladesh's Patgram border: BGB Saddam Hossain had reportedly taken Tk 30,000 to arrange their illegal entry into India, the statement reads.  Lt Col Sheikh Mohammad Badruddoja, commander of the 56th BGB Battalion, said legal action will be  taken against the detainees and they will be handed over to the police. He reaffirmed that the BGB remains vigilant to prevent illegal infiltration, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have detained two Indian nationals for evading customs duties and bringing in goods. They were detained from the Akhaura land port area in Brahmanbaria and handed over to the police on Tuesday, said Akhaura Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Somiuddin on Wednesday. 6 arrested over attack on DoE official at Chawkbazar polythene factory BGB seized goods worth around Tk 8.5 lakh from the two Indian nationals, including three-piece suits, cream, and alcohol, ehe said. The arrestee Indian nationals are Rahul Mia (28) and Selina Begum (45), both from the Ramnagar area of Tripura, India. Their passports were also confiscated, and they were sent to jail through court proceedings on Wednesday, the OC said. Police arrest 3 suspected mugging gang members in Dhaka's Uttarkhan BGB's Habildar Mohammad Zakir Hossain filed a case against the detainees in which it was stated that the two Indian nationals were searched while travelling by auto-rickshaw after passing through the land port area on Tuesday afternoon. During the search, 52 three-piece suits, 1700 pieces of cream, and five bottles of alcohol were found. However, they were unable to produce any documents to justify the goods. They admitted to bringing the goods by evading customs duties, according to the BGB.

In protest of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) taking a Bangladeshi farmer from the Enayetpur border in Dinajpur, locals from the Bangladesh side apprehended an Indian farmer and handed him over to the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB). Later, in a flag meeting, both were returned to their respective countries’ border forces. This incident occurred on Friday. Tensions had risen along the border, but the issue was resolved peacefully by the concerned authorities. According to locals, six BSF personnel abducted a Bangladeshi citizen named Alamgir from near the 323 main pillar area, adjacent to the Enayetpur BOP camp, at around 10 am on Friday. Alamgir is the son of Aijuddin from the village of Dipnagar. BGB thwarts BSF’s another reported bid to install fence along Joypurhat border After the news spread, locals detained an Indian farmer, Narayan Chandra Roy (45), and handed him over to the BGB. Narayan Chandra Roy is from the Purba Mollapara village in South Dinajpur, West Bengal. Lieutenant Colonel Ahsan Ul Islam, the commander of BGB's 42 Battalion, said, “Five people had crossed into Bangladesh from the Indian side of the border. The BSF mistakenly took Alamgir, thinking he was one of the fugitives they were chasing.” The BSF returned Alamgir to BGB, while Narayan Chandra Roy was handed over to them through a flag meeting at around 3:30pm today, he added.

A sector commander-level meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) was held on Wednesday morning at Sonamasjid border outpost conference room in Chapainawabganj. The 59 BGB Battalion issued a press release after the meeting. According to the press release, the meeting discussed various issues in a friendly environment and the both sides agreed on restricting access of all except farmers within 150 yards of the border. They discussed addressing border-related problems through discussion between the two forces, discouraging trespassing and drug smuggling, and preventing misinformation or rumors by media over border issues. The BGB delegation was led by Rajshahi Sector Commander Colonel Imran Ibne A. Rouf, while DIG Arun Kumar Gautam of the Malda Sector led the BSF team. Read: Flag meeting held between BGB and BSF over Fencing at Naogaon border Lt Col Golam Kibria, Commanding Officer of the 59 BGB Battalion, and Suraj Singh, Commanding Officer of the 119 BSF Battalion were present. Tensions between the two forces recently escalated due to BSF’s alleged construction of a barbed wire fence near the zero line at Chouka border on January 7 and the felling of mango trees in Bangladesh by Indian nationals near the Chouka and Kiranganj border areas on January 18.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized 450,000 yaba tablets during an operation in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. The operation was conducted early morning on Wednesday along the Naf River near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of Teknaf Battalion (BGB 2), said that they received a tip-off about a large drug shipment entering Bangladesh from Myanmar. Acting on this intelligence, two BGB teams from the battalion headquarters and the Leda Border Outpost (BOP) launched an operation in the Member Post area under Leda BOP's jurisdiction. Read: 2.5 lakh Yaba pills seized from Teknaf During the raid, the smugglers abandoned two sacks and swam across the river to escape. Upon searching the sacks, BGB recovered 450,000 yaba tablets. Efforts are underway to identify those involved, Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman added.