Fatikchhari (Chattogram) Correspondent

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has once again pushed in 13 women and children into Bangladesh through the Matiranga Upazila of Khagrachari. 

Matiranga UNO Manzur Alam stated that the group was forced across the border via Bhagaban Tila on early Thursday morning.

With this incident, BSF has pushed in a total of 145 individuals through various borders of Khagrachari district since May.

Sources state that the 13 individuals—comprising women, children, and men—were residents of Washi village in the Kaprkhair police station area of Thane district, Maharashtra, India. BSF apprehended them and forcibly sent them across the Tripura border into Bangladesh. Upon receiving the information, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) took them to a para center in Tanakka Para, where they are currently housed under the supervision of BGB and police.

The victims of the push-in claim that they are Bangladeshi citizens, originally from Narail district. Police are currently verifying the information they provided. If they are confirmed to be legitimate Bangladeshi citizens, arrangements will be made to send them back to Narail, said UNO Manzur Alam.

It is worth noting that on May 30, BSF forcibly pushed in 14 people through the Achalong border in the Taindong Union of Matiranga. Four days earlier, on May 26, BSF pushed in 19 individuals—including women, men, and children—through the same border.

Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khandakar stated that according to government directives, if the individuals pushed in are verified to be Bangladeshi citizens, they are returned to their respective addresses. 

The citizenship information of the latest 13 individuals pushed in through the Matiranga border is currently being verified. If confirmed as Bangladeshi, arrangements will be made to send them to their respective areas.