Ten men, women, and children have remained stranded in the India-Bangladesh zero line for two days after being allegedly pushed in by India's Border Security Force (BSF) through the Benapole border, reports bdnews24.com.
A flag meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF held on Monday evening failed to resolve the situation.
As a result, the group has been forced to stay under a tree in the no-man's-land between the two countries, unable to move in either direction.
Lt Col Golam Mohammad Saiful Alam Khan, commander of the 49 BGB Battalion, visited the Benapole border on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, he said: "We have informed the BSF that if they are Bangladeshi citizens, they should be sent through the proper state process and we will accept them.
"We will not accept any attempt to send people across illegally. We will not allow anyone to cross into Bangladesh through the zero line in this manner."
According to the BGB, the group was allegedly pushed towards Bangladesh through a barbed-wire gate late on Monday night.
After learning of the incident, BGB personnel blocked their entry.
The force said the first attempt was made through the Jayantipur border in Benapole. That effort failed after intervention by BGB members.
The BSF later allegedly opened several other border gates during the night and made multiple attempts to send the group across, but those efforts were also thwarted by BGB personnel and local residents.
The BGB claimed that border searchlights near the gate used in the alleged push-in attempt had been switched off beforehand.
Following the incident, the BGB said security and vigilance had been increased along the Benapole border and adjoining areas.
Public awareness announcements have also been made in border villages.
