POBNEWS24, Dhaka Jan 24, 2025 : Amidst the tension and tension between Bangladesh and India, the Indian border guarding force BSF has started a 10-day ‘Ops Alert’ exercise on the border. The exercise, which started on January 22, will continue till January 31.
The Indian government claims that this exercise is aimed at strengthening border security on the occasion of India’s Republic Day celebration. This was informed in a press release of the BSF.
The release said that this step has been taken in the context of the current changing situation in Bangladesh on the occasion of India’s upcoming 76th Republic Day. India will celebrate its 76th Republic Day on January 26, 2025. On this day in 1950, India became a sovereign democratic republic by implementing the Constitution. Every year this day is celebrated with a large-scale event at the national level.
It was further said that all field formations of the BSF have started the ‘Ops Alert’ exercise along the 4,096-kilometer-long Bangladesh-India border. The exercise is to further strengthen border security and strengthen border posts. Patrolling and other security activities will be intensified at the border during the exercise.
Additional Director General (East) of BSF and other officials reviewed the day and night security situation in the Eastern Command area. Additional Director General (ADG) Ravi Gandhi is inspecting the border area to supervise the operational preparedness and strategic deployment of BSF on the South Bengal border. He has directed all field formations to further strengthen security, especially along the riverine border and in areas where there is no barbed wire fence.
The notification said that during this exercise, the BSF forces will conduct various security exercises in the deep and forward areas of the border. In addition, to deal with any situation arising at the border, a reunion program will be conducted to verify the validity of various activities and maintain good relations with the people of the border area.
Meanwhile, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) returned farmer Al Amin, who was abducted from the Enayetpur border in Birol, Dinajpur after five and a half hours. The farmer was taken away on Friday (January 24) morning. In protest, some Bangladeshis caught an Indian farmer and handed him over to Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) members.
In this incident, a flag meeting was held between the BGB and the BSF at the border at 3:30 pm. Later, by the afternoon, the Bangladeshi youth and the Indian farmer were sent back to their respective countries. Lieutenant Colonel Ahsan-ul Islam, commander of Dinajpur 42 BGB Battalion, confirmed the matter.
Al Amin, who was caught by the BSF, is the son of Aiz Uddin of Dwipnagar village. On the other hand, the farmer brought from India is Narayan Chandra Roy of Purba Mollapara village of Kusumandi police station in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal.
Locals said that on Friday morning, he was working on his land next to pillar number 323 of the zero line of the border in Dwipnagar village. At that time, BSF members took him to the camp. Later, his family members informed the BGB members about the matter. Upon learning of the matter, some residents of Dwipnagar village picked up an Indian farmer from his land and handed him over to the members of the Enayetpur BOP camp.
After the meeting, Dinajpur 42 BGB commander Lt. Col. Ahsanul Islam said that five Bangladeshis entered Bangladesh from India without any valid documents. The BSF thought that someone near the border had helped them. At that time, a Bangladeshi youth named Al Amin was very close to the border. So the BSF thought he was an accomplice and arrested him.
He also said that the matter was a misunderstanding. It was resolved at the flag meeting. They returned Al Amin at 4:15 pm. Regarding the Indian citizen, he said that he has also been returned to the BSF.
On the other hand, three people were injured in three separate landmine explosions on the Naikshongchhari-Mazanmar border in Bandarban.
These explosions occurred between 10 am on Friday (January 24) in the area of Pillar No. 47-48 on the Fultali border of Mazanmar.
Naikshongchhari Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Muhammad Mazharul Islam Chowdhury confirmed the mine explosion.
The injured are Ali Hossain of Ashartali area of the upazila, Arif Ullah of Lemutali area and Md. Russell of Dochhari area.
Ali Hossain’s left ankle was severed and Arif Ullah suffered serious injuries to his face. Locals rescued them and took them to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.
According to local sources, they were injured in a landmine explosion planted by the Arakan Army on the border while they were infiltrating into Myanmar and bringing cattle.
