PUSH IN BANGLADESHI NATIONALS BY BANGLADESH
RIFLES
On 31st
January 2003 at about 0745 hrs, patrol party of the Border Security
Force from Border Out Post Satgachi, District Cooch Behar, West
Bengal reported that about 200 Bangladeshi Nationals were trying
to enter into India from Bangladesh. The patrol party stopped
them and it was further revealed that all these Bangladesh Nationals
had been collected from various parts of general area Dhaka and
brought on zero line. These Bangladeshi nationals comprise 68
males, 65 females and 80 children, thus totaling – 213. They are
basically muslim nomads of Bangladesh, belonging to the category
of snake charmers, folk singers etc. and many of them had money
receipts, electricity bills and cash memos from Dhaka. Presently,
all these Bangladeshi Nationals are stranded on Zero line. Bangladesh
Rifles are not allowing them to return to Bangladesh territory.
Patrolling has
been intensified in surrounding areas to check any kind of infiltration/push
in activities by the Bangladesh Rifles.
Flag meetings
were held between the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles at the commandant
level on the 1st February and again on the 2nd
February and Bangladesh Rifles was requested to take back the
Bangladeshi nationals crossing over into Indian territory. Bangladesh
Rifles was also requested to agree to verification of the antecedents
and nationality of the persons stranded on the zero line but Bangladesh
Rifles refused to do so.
The matter has
been taken up with the Government of Bangladesh through diplomatic
channels. Response of the Government of Bangladesh on this is
awaited. Situation is being monitored closely.
