Nearly 1,000 Bangladeshi people arrive at border, chant Jai Shri Ram to enter India; Sent back

In a tense situation near the India-Bangladesh border, nearly 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals seeking refuge in India were sent back by the Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday, with assistance from their counterparts, the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB). The incident occurred at the international border in Coochbehar, North Bengal, amid ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.

According to a statement issued by the Guwahati Frontier of the BSF, the Bangladeshi nationals had approached the border, pleading for refuge due to the turmoil in their home country. Video footage and photographs shared by the BSF depicted the desperate situation, with some individuals standing chest-deep in a river, imploring the BSF personnel to allow them to cross into India. Some of the refugees were heard shouting the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram,' indicating that they might be Hindus facing persecution in Bangladesh.

"This emerging challenge is new to the BSF, which is primarily entrusted with the security of India’s borders along both Bangladesh and Pakistan. Faced with the delicate task of managing humanitarian concerns while ensuring border security, the BSF demonstrated exceptional professionalism, with its officers and men swiftly responding to the situation," the statement read.

The BSF immediately contacted the BGB, requesting them to take back the Bangladeshi nationals to prevent any escalation of tensions at the border. The coordinated efforts of the BSF and India's civil administration were pivotal in maintaining order and resolving the crisis peacefully.