Tensions flared up along the Kaliganj border in Shibganj Upazila, Chapainawabganj, as Indian nationals allegedly hurled crude bombs at Bangladeshis in the presence of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday.
Amid the escalating tensions, a flag meeting at the battalion commander level between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF was held in the afternoon regarding the incident.
After the meeting, 59 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Col Golam Kibria said tensions had arisen between the people on both sides of the border over the cutting of mango trees of Bangladeshis within Bangladesh. “The situation is currently under control. “
The BGB official urged Bangladeshi citizens to stay away from the border's zero line, highlighting that BSF personnel violated international law by deploying sound grenades to manage the situation.
In this regard, he mentioned that the BGB had lodged a protest with the BSF, and the matter had been reported to the higher authorities of the BGB.
The BSF expressed regret over the cutting of mango trees by Indian citizens and assured that they would take appropriate action to address the issue, the BGB official added.
Teargas shells were also reportedly thrown from the other side as BGB worked to control the situation, which had been escalating since Saturday noon.
Videos shared on social media showed hundreds of Indian nationals encroaching into Bangladeshi land behind BSF soldiers.
Locals reported that BSF members suddenly brought over 500 Indian nationals to the barbed wire fence, who then crossed into Bangladesh, hurling crude bombs as BSF launched teargas shells, with sporadic border tension persisting as of 5:30 pm.
On January 7, at the Chouka border, the BSF unlawfully began constructing a barbed wire fence along the zero line, prompting the BGB to intervene and heighten tensions.