State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam has said that the government of Bangladesh has taken a tough stance against the alleged ‘pushin’ or forced people being sent through India’s border.
He said 12 to thirteen formal letters have already been sent to the Indian government in this regard and the BGB is on the highest alert along the border.
The state minister said this while exchanging views with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (June 8th).
He said there is an internationally recognized process for the return of a person who is illegally residing. India has to follow this process. There is no way to cross the border without rules.
Shama Obaid Islam also said that the recent Pushin events could have a negative impact on the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India. This has been highlighted at the diplomatic level.
About the border situation, she said additional BGB members have been deployed in 26 districts of the border to prevent attempts to push various persons, including women and children, to Bangladesh. They are under surveillance for 24hours. The local people are also cooperating with the BGB in the border security.
Meanwhile, the 57th BGB and BSF Director General-level Conference began in New Delhi on Monday, which will continue till June 11th. BGB sources said the conference will seriously discuss various issues related to illegal pushin, the killing of Bangladeshi nationals at the border, the prevention of smuggling and border management.
According to diplomatic and security analysts, the pushin issue along the border has become one of the most sensitive issues in relations between the two countries in recent days. Special attention can be given to the current conference on finding effective solutions in this regard.