BGB accused of blocking return of 10 Bangladeshis stranded at India border
Synopsis
Ten Bangladeshi nationals — including children — spent two days stranded in the open at Joypur Zero Point after the BGB allegedly refused to let them back into Bangladesh. The BSF eventually detained and sheltered them, but the episode exposes a troubling gap: India wants them gone, Bangladesh allegedly won't take them back, and the people caught in the middle are ordinary families from Jessore, Chittagong, and Khulna.
Key Takeaways
10 Bangladeshi nationals , including two families with children, were stranded for two days at Joypur Zero Point on the India-Bangladesh border.
The BGB's 56 Battalion allegedly refused to allow the group to re-enter Bangladesh at the Berubari crossing.
The BSF's 39 Battalion (Radhabari-Siliguri sector) detained the group on Monday, 8 June and transferred them to a holding centre at the Jalpaiguri Regional Training Centre .
Detainees are residents of Jessore, Kushtia, Chittagong, Satkhira , and Khulna districts of Bangladesh.
Repatriation will proceed through legal procedures, according to Kotwali Police Station officials.
The incident follows West Bengal 's new government adopting a stricter stance on illegal infiltrators, reportedly prompting more Bangladeshis to seek voluntary return.
Around 10 Bangladeshi nationals, including members of two families, were brought to a holding centre in Jalpaiguri district on Monday, 8 June after spending two days stranded at the Joypur Zero Point along the India-Bangladesh border, following allegations that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) refused to allow them back into their country. The Border Security Force (BSF) detained the group from the border area on Monday morning and transferred them first to Kotwali Police Station and subsequently to the holding centre at the Jalpaiguri Regional Training Centre.
Who Was Stranded and Where
The detained individuals are residents of multiple districts across Bangladesh. They include Mohammad Abdul Salam (38), his wife Yasmin (30), and their son Mohammad Irfan Islam (6), all from Benapole in Jessore district. Also among the group is Mehendi Hasan (31) from Kushtia district, and four individuals from Kanopalli in Chittagong — Shamsul Alam (46), his wife Taslima Akhtar (30), their son Mohammad Sahin (10), and daughter Sahima Akhtar (10). The remaining two are Usman from Satkhira district and Mohammad Munna from Khulna district. All ten were brought to the holding centre by the BSF's 39 Battalion operating under the Radhabari-Siliguri sector.
The Alleged BGB Refusal
According to reports, the group had initially been escorted by the BSF to the Berubari border crossing for repatriation. However, personnel from the BGB's 56 Battalion, which oversees the border area in Bangladesh's Panchagarh district, allegedly prevented them from entering Bangladesh. The group then remained stranded at the zero line for two days, exposed to both sun and rain, before the BSF intervened and brought them to the holding centre.
What Officials and Local Leaders Said
Officials at Kotwali Police Station confirmed the group will remain at the holding centre until they can be repatriated through established legal procedures. Berubari Gram Panchayat Deputy Chief Dilip Kumar Das said: 'We want the Central and state governments to take the initiative to send illegal Bangladeshis back to Bangladesh. But the Bangladesh government does not want its citizens to return. After being stranded at Zero Point for two days, the BSF has brought them to the holding centre. We want them to be sent back to their country.'
Broader Context: West Bengal's Crackdown and Rising Returns
The incident comes amid a reported uptick in Bangladeshi nationals attempting to return home following a change of government in West Bengal. The new state government has reportedly adopted a stricter stance against illegal infiltrators, which observers say has prompted more individuals to attempt voluntary repatriation. However, some of those attempting to cross back have allegedly encountered resistance from BGB personnel at the border, creating a diplomatic and humanitarian grey zone. This is not an isolated incident — similar allegations of BGB obstruction have surfaced in recent weeks along the same stretch of border.
What Happens Next
The 10 Bangladeshi nationals will remain at the Jalpaiguri Regional Training Centre holding facility until formal repatriation procedures are completed. Local leaders have urged both the Centre and the state government to pursue diplomatic channels with Dhaka to ensure the process is not stalled further. How Bangladesh's interim administration responds to the BGB's alleged conduct is likely to shape the pace of repatriations along this border corridor in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
The holding centres become a pressure valve rather than a solution. The families stranded at Joypur Zero Point are not a security threat; they are the human cost of a diplomatic standoff between two neighbours who have yet to agree on a functional, humane repatriation protocol. Until New Delhi and Dhaka formalise a bilateral return mechanism with clear timelines and BGB accountability, scenes like this will recur with greater frequency.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the 10 Bangladeshi nationals stranded at the India-Bangladesh border?
The group was stranded at Joypur Zero Point for two days after the BGB's 56 Battalion allegedly refused to allow them to re-enter Bangladesh at the Berubari crossing. The BSF had initially escorted them to the border for repatriation, but they were turned back, leaving them exposed at the zero line.
Who are the Bangladeshi nationals detained in Jalpaiguri?
The 10 individuals include Mohammad Abdul Salam, his wife Yasmin, and their son Mohammad Irfan Islam from Benapole, Jessore; Mehendi Hasan from Kushtia; Shamsul Alam, his wife Taslima Akhtar, and their two children from Kanopalli, Chittagong; and Usman from Satkhira and Mohammad Munna from Khulna.
Where are the detained Bangladeshi nationals being held?
They are being held at the holding centre located at the Jalpaiguri Regional Training Centre. Police officials confirmed they will remain there until repatriation can be completed through legal procedures.
Why has the number of Bangladeshis trying to return home reportedly increased?
According to reports, the new West Bengal government has adopted a stricter stance against illegal infiltrators, which has reportedly prompted more Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in India to attempt voluntary return to Bangladesh.
What is the BGB's role in this incident?
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is Bangladesh's border security force. In this case, personnel from its 56 Battalion, responsible for the Panchagarh district border area, allegedly blocked the group from entering Bangladesh — an allegation that, if confirmed, would represent a refusal to accept the repatriation of the country's own citizens.
