Standoff persists at Bangladesh-India border as twelve remain stranded in no-mans land

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A standoff between border security forces has entered its third day at the Pragpur border in Kushtia’s Daulatpur upazila, where 12 individuals, including four children, remain stranded in the no-man’s-land near the zero line. The group, consisting of three families who claim to be from Chapainawabganj, Satkhira, and Khulna, has been trapped between the two nations since Friday morning, when the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) first attempted to push them into Bangladeshi territory.

The impasse shows no signs of resolution as 56 hours have passed since the initial incident at the 148/3-S border pillar. According to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), BSF authorities have denied the individuals are Indian citizens and have refused to accept them, despite the BGB’s firm stance that they will not permit unauthorized entry. Subedar Asaduzzaman, company commander of the BGB’s 47th Battalion at the Pragpur camp, confirmed that no progress has been made since a flag meeting held on Saturday, leaving the group in a precarious position in an open field near the Mathabhanga River.

Tensions at the border remain high as BGB personnel maintain a heightened state of alert. Further complicating the situation, a separate attempt by the BSF to push an individual across the border near the 85/13-S pillar at the Char Challishpara border was successfully thwarted by the BGB early Sunday morning. In that instance, the BSF reportedly retreated with the individual after being met with firm resistance.

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While the geopolitical stalemate continues, local residents in the Pragpur area have stepped in to provide humanitarian aid. Distributing food, including bread, biscuits, milk, and water, the villagers have been coordinating with the stranded group to ensure their basic needs are met while the standoff persists. The BGB, meanwhile, continues to monitor the border closely with the active cooperation of the local community to prevent any unauthorized crossings.