Tensions gripped Sylhet border after youth goes missing, Indian farmer returned to BSF

Tension gripped the Jikarganj border area of Sylhet after a Bangladeshi youth went missing inside the India-Bangladesh frontier, prompting a brief cross-border incident that led to the detention and subsequent return of an Indian farmer through a flag meeting between border forces.

The Indian citizen, identified as 65-year-old Ranjit Das, was handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and later returned to the Border Security Force during a flag meeting held around 10:30pm on Tuesday (June 16) at the Northkul border.

Local sources said the incident began after a Bangladeshi youth, identified as Dipjol, 26, son of Ahmad Ali of Northkul Digaligram in Barothakuri union, Jikarganj upazila, entered Indian territory early Monday morning and went missing soon after.

Barothakuri Union Parishad chairman Mohsin Mortuza Chowdhury said locals alleged that Dipjol was fired upon by the Border Security Force (BSF) after crossing into Indian territory. However, the BSF has denied any such claim, and the youth’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Following the incident, the Indian farmer appeared near the zero line adjacent to Gate 31 of the Kinnkhal BOP around 11:00am on Tuesday. Locals, angered by the missing youth incident, brought him into the Bangladeshi side before border guards intervened and brought the situation under control.

As tensions escalated, BGB and BSF initiated communication to defuse the situation. Later, with the intervention of the Jikarganj Battalion (19 BGB), a flag meeting was arranged, during which Ranjit Das was formally handed back to the BSF.

Meanwhile, uncertainty continues over the missing Bangladeshi youth, with locals expressing anger and concern. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have been injured or killed inside Indian territory, though no official confirmation has been issued by authorities from either side.

Border officials said the situation has now been brought under control, but monitoring continues along the sensitive frontier area.