BGB seeks return of two police personnel held by BSF

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is in talks to secure the return of two Bangladeshi police personnel detained by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) near the Shashidal border in Brahmanpara upazila of Cumilla.

The BGB said the two officers were in good health and were expected to return soon.

Lieutenant Colonel Mahbub Murshed Rahman, director (operations) of the BGB, told a briefing at the force’s headquarters on Friday that official communication had already taken place.

“We have officially communicated with them and expect to get back our two police personnel, Assistant Sub-Inspector Imran Hossain and Constable Rohit Dewan, very soon. They are well and have not faced any problems,” he said.

The incident occurred near the Shashidal border under Brahmanpara Police Station. Rahman said the hilly and forested terrain in the area could create challenging situations for personnel on duty, adding that the BGB was extending all-out cooperation to bring the officers back.

Brahmanpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Faruk Hossain said Imran and Rohit were on night patrol in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw at around 10:30pm on Thursday.

They were conducting a drug recovery operation near border pillar No. 2059 in the Asha Bari border area of Shashidal Union. When suspected drug traders tried to flee after seeing the police, the officers chased them and allegedly crossed into India by mistake, the OC said.

Rahman said safeguarding the border and maintaining territorial integrity were among the BGB’s primary responsibilities.

He added that such incidents were not unprecedented and that the force was prepared to handle them while maintaining professional relations with its counterparts in neighbouring countries.

He said the BGB would continue working to ensure border stability and security while protecting national interests and respecting international law.

BGB to guard 2,727 Durga Puja venues

Rahman also said BGB personnel would be deployed to provide security at 2,727 Durga Puja venues across the country from Friday until next Thursday.

Alongside regular duties in border areas, the force will conduct patrols, intelligence surveillance and rapid-response operations to ensure security at the venues. Around 21 base camps have been set up to cover temples in remote and hard-to-reach areas.