10 people stranded in open air for 59 hours despite two rounds flag meetings

Ten people, including women and children, remain stranded in the no-man’s land along the Barabari-Pradhanpara border in Panchagarh nearly 59 hours after an alleged push-in attempt by India’s Border Security Force (BSF), with two rounds of flag meetings failing to resolve the impasse.

A visit to the border area on Sunday afternoon (June 7) found the group enduring scorching heat, rain and harsh weather conditions while staying on a narrow embankment between farmlands near the zero line.

The stranded group comprises five men, two women and three children.

According to local sources and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the BSF attempted to push the 10 individuals into Bangladesh early Friday. However, a firm stance by the BGB prevented their entry, leaving them stranded in the border strip ever since.

Efforts to resolve the situation through bilateral discussions have so far yielded no breakthrough. A battalion commander-level flag meeting between the BGB and BSF was held on Saturday at the Barabari border, following an earlier company commander-level meeting on Friday. Both meetings ended without a resolution.

Local residents have urged authorities from both countries to address the humanitarian crisis without delay, expressing concern over the condition of the women and children forced to remain outdoors for an extended period amid extreme weather.

Lieutenant Colonel Md. Sirajul Islam, commanding officer of the 56 BGB Battalion in Nilphamari, said Bangladesh had asked the BSF to take the individuals back, but the request was declined.

He added that Bangladesh would also not accept them without proper verification.

“The matter has been reported to higher authorities, and further steps will be taken in line with their directives,” he said.

As the standoff continues, residents and observers are calling for swift intervention from the relevant authorities of both countries to prevent the humanitarian situation from worsening.