At the Phulbari border in Kurigram, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over 24 detained Bangladeshis to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). These individuals—men, women, and children—were detained by BSF while returning from Delhi, India, where they had gone in search of work. After being brought back to Bangladesh, the BGB handed them over to their respective families.

The handover took place following a flag meeting between the BGB and BSF at 1:30 AM on Friday (May 23) at the Balatari border in Phulbari upazila. The meeting was led by AC SHL Simti of India's 03 BSF Battalion and Major Hasnain, Deputy Commander of the 15 BGB Battalion of Lalmonirhat.

The hour-long meeting concluded with the formal transfer of the 24 detainees—comprising 8 men, 8 women, and 8 children—from BSF to BGB. Afterward, BGB brought them to their camp and subsequently reunited them with their families.

According to BGB sources, the Lalmonirhat 15 BGB Battalion learned that the opposing 3 BSF Battalion’s Korola Camp had gathered several individuals for push-in into Bangladesh. In response, a strong message was sent to BSF, warning against any attempt to push illegal entrants into Bangladesh.

The message clarified that if individuals were genuinely Bangladeshi citizens, they would be accepted after proper identity verification under official procedures. However, no non-Bangladeshi would be allowed to enter Bangladesh under any circumstance. In response, BSF initially provided a list of 24 individuals—8 men, 8 women, and 8 children. After verifying their identities, the individuals were received through a flag meeting and later handed over to their families with the help of local representatives.

Major Hasnain, Deputy Commander of the Lalmonirhat 15 BGB Battalion, stated that the return of the 24 individuals was conducted through proper procedures and in coordination with local people and public representatives.