India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly pushed 21 Rohingya nationals, including women and children, into Bangladesh through the Nakugaon border in Sherpur’s Nalitabari upazila.

According to a press statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Hasan, commander of the 39 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Mymensingh sector, the push-in took place at around 1:00am on Friday (July 25) through Gate No. 3 of the Nakugaon land port area. The group was reportedly brought to the border area earlier on Thursday evening.

The group includes 11 children, five women, and five men. All are believed to be citizens of Myanmar and former residents of the Balukhali Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, where they lived until around 2016.

The individuals were identified as Sabbir (40), Shamsul Alam (43), Romana Begum (24), Tohha (9), Noor Tajol (4), Riaz (4), Arman (1), Robi Khanom (24), Hasina Begum (22), Shahina Akter (3), Shuktara (4 months), Setara Begum (35), Borhan (8), Hatema Begum (40), Nurul Absar (17), Jinnat Ara (15), Nurul Islam (13), Siraj (11), Azizul Osman (9), Ayesha Bibi (6), and one speech-impaired individual.

According to sources said the group left the Balukhali camp in 2017 and travelled to India via brokers. They had reportedly been working as daily labourers in different locations. Recently, Indian law enforcement identified their presence and took them to the Dalu border in Meghalaya, where they were held at the Killapara BSF camp. At around 12:15am, they were sent across the border through Gate No. 3 between pillars 1415.

After being pushed into Bangladesh, locals assisted the BGB personnel from the Hatipagar camp in locating the group. They were later taken to the premises of Nakugaon Muktijoddha High School, where preliminary questioning was conducted.

Nalitabari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana confirmed he was aware of the incident but said the Rohingyas had not yet been officially handed over to police. It remains unclear whether such a handover will take place.

MSK/