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Three Bangladeshis Injured in Clash with Indian Nationals at international Border

West Bengal: Clashes broke out between villagers of Bharat and Bangladesh along the international borders in Maldah

Minority Watch, Dhaka— Three Bangladeshis were injured in a violent altercation with Indian nationals on the border in Chapainawabganj district’s Shibganj upazila, near the Chouka outpost of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), on Saturday.

The incident took place around noon along the zero line, with the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) stationed at the nearby Sukhdevpur outpost in Malda district, West Bengal.

The injured individuals include Mesbahul Haque from Namotola in Binodpur Union, Md Rony from Biswanathpur village, and Md Faruk. Haque and Faruk were struck by “hansuas”—sharp cutting tools—thrown from the Indian side, while Rony was injured by stones.

The situation escalated when Indian nationals, reportedly accompanied by BSF personnel, crossed into Bangladeshi territory and engaged in violent acts.

Local sources claim the altercation began after allegations of Indian nationals illegally cutting mango trees within Bangladesh. In retaliation, stones and crude bombs were reportedly thrown by Indian residents.

A flag meeting between the BSF and BGB was held later in the day. Lt. Col. Golam Kibria, the Commander of BGB’s 59th Battalion, said that the root cause of the tensions stemmed from disputes over mango tree cutting. “The situation is now under control,” he added.

Videos circulating on social media showed large numbers of Indian nationals encroaching onto Bangladeshi soil while BSF personnel appeared to be present, with both sides exchanging violent exchanges. The incident persisted into the afternoon, despite intervention from both border forces.

Earlier in the month, on January 7, the BSF began constructing a barbed wire fence along the zero line near Chouka, which heightened tensions between the two countries and prompted a BGB response.

Regret Expressed by BSF

Following the flag meeting, BSF officials expressed regret over the cutting of mango trees by Indian nationals and assured that they would take necessary action, BGB sources said.

BGB’s Lt. Col. Kibria urged the public to remain cautious near the zero line and noted that BSF had violated international laws by using sound grenades during the incident. He confirmed that BGB had lodged a formal protest with BSF and reported the matter to higher authorities.

BSF’s Account of the Incident

The BSF offered a different perspective on the events. According to a statement, the confrontation started when Indian farmers accused Bangladeshi farmers of stealing crops from Indian fields near the Sukhdevpur border outpost.

The altercation quickly escalated, and stone-pelting ensued between villagers from both sides. BSF and BGB personnel intervened to restore order, and the situation was brought under control.

BSF spokesperson NK Pandey stated, “No injuries were reported from either side,” and commended BGB for its role in diffusing the situation. He emphasized the need for better coordination between the two border forces and reiterated that the situation was now under control.

The BSF also urged Indian farmers to report any similar incidents to the BSF instead of taking matters into their own hands. Both sides have pledged to meet with local village leaders to prevent future incidents, with additional BSF personnel deployed to the area to maintain peace.

Earlier Escalation: Mango Trees and Fence Construction

Tensions had been simmering for weeks, particularly over the construction of a barbed wire fence by the BSF at the Chouka border. Bangladesh expressed concern over these developments, which led to the flag meeting at the battalion commander level between the BSF and BGB.

The border dispute has been further complicated by the geography of the region, where enclaves make it difficult to draw clear boundaries. Both Indian and Bangladeshi nationals frequently stray into each other’s territories, resulting in frequent skirmishes.

Authorities on both sides are now working to de-escalate tensions, with increased border security and efforts to address the underlying issues of theft, trespassing, and destruction of crops.

The situation remains fluid, but both the BSF and BGB are determined to restore calm along this volatile stretch of the border.

* Disclaimer: The story is updated following different news articles published by Indian and Bangladeshi media.

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