Nine Bangladeshi nationals detained by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) while attempting to return home after working in India have been handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) following a flag meeting between the two forces.
The handover was confirmed in a press release issued at 11:30 PM on Friday by Lieutenant Colonel Moin Ahmed, Commander of the 42 BGB Battalion in Dinajpur.
According to the statement, the BSF apprehended the workers for illegally crossing into Indian territory.
Upon receiving information, the local BGB camp alerted the battalion commander, who promptly initiated communication with the 91st BSF Battalion in Raiganj, South Dinajpur, requesting the return of the detainees.
A flag meeting was subsequently held at the border area of Biral Upazila from 9:00 to 10:30 PM on Friday, after which the BSF formally returned the nine individuals to the BGB.
BGB officials later transferred the detainees to Biral Police Station at around 11:30 PM. A case has been filed against them under charges of illegal border crossing.
Officer-in-Charge of Biral Police Station, Abdus Sabur, confirmed that the detainees would be presented before the Dinajpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Court on Saturday for further legal proceedings.
During initial police questioning, the detainees admitted to entering India illegally to work in various factories and industries.
Amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan, they attempted to return to Bangladesh using human trafficking routes. They were detained on Friday afternoon by BSF personnel from the Kaliaganj Camp in South Dinajpur and subsequently handed over to Bangladeshi authorities.
