b-deshi-national-stuck-in-no-man-s-land-as-bsf-bgb-talks-fail

A Bangladeshi national, identified as Sati Rajbanshi (55) from Rajshahi district, remained stranded for a second consecutive day in no-man’s land along the India–Bangladesh border in Meghalaya’s South West Garo Hills district after talks between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) failed to resolve a dispute over his status.

 

The standoff in the Nandir Char area near Mahendraganj continued on Thursday, even after a flag meeting between the two border forces ended without any breakthrough.

 

According to BSF sources, Rajbanshi was brought to the international border by Bangladeshi authorities along with BGB personnel. The Indian side has alleged that there was an attempt to push him into Indian territory, a claim that has not been officially addressed by Bangladesh.

 

The BSF maintained that Rajbanshi is a Bangladeshi citizen and has refused entry into India. It also denied any involvement in facilitating or allowing any cross-border movement in the case.

Also read: Jamaat, allies plan border protests over 'push-ins' by India

 

Sources within the force further claimed that the man may have been targeted due to belonging to Bangladesh’s Hindu minority community. However, this allegation could not be independently verified.

 

On the other hand, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has not issued any official statement on the incident, and there has been no response from senior Bangladeshi authorities regarding the matter.

 

The situation has triggered concern among border security officials as both sides continue to hold their positions on jurisdiction and responsibility for the stranded individual. Further flag meetings between BSF and BGB are expected if no resolution is reached.

 

The incident comes amid increased attention on border management along the India–Bangladesh frontier, with security agencies intensifying surveillance and coordination over issues related to illegal migration and deportation procedures.

 

India has consistently maintained that repatriation of foreign nationals is carried out strictly under legal frameworks and bilateral agreements after due verification. Bangladesh has, in recent months, raised concerns over alleged “push-ins”, which India has firmly denied.