At the Fulbari border in Dinajpur, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has safely repatriated a Bangladeshi woman following a flag meeting with the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB). The incident occurred on Thursday, 18 December, after several hours of discussion and verification, during which BGB’s Fulbari 29 Battalion formally received the 27-year-old woman, Archana Surin.
According to a press release from the BGB 29 Battalion, Archana was apprehended for illegally crossing the border into India. In response to a request from the BSF, BGB officials arrived at Pillar 299/1 S and, through the flag meeting protocol, took custody of her. Her national identification was thoroughly verified, confirming her Bangladeshi citizenship, after which she was handed over to the Fulbari police for further legal procedures.
During questioning, Archana Surin revealed that she had been employed in Dhaka’s garment industry for several years. She had connected with an Indian citizen, Dipankar, through Facebook, and over time, a romantic relationship developed. Encouraged by Dipankar’s assurances of marriage, Archana crossed into India via the Srimangal border on 12 December to visit his residence. However, when Dipankar’s family refused consent for the marriage, she was apprehended by Patiram police on 14 December. Following the flag meeting, the BSF ensured her safe return to Bangladesh.
Lieutenant Colonel A.M. Zaber Bin Jabbar, commanding officer of BGB’s Fulbari 29 Battalion, emphasised that maintaining law and order along the border and ensuring the safe repatriation of citizens are core responsibilities of the BGB. He further noted that Archana’s case highlights the significant risks posed by social media-driven interactions and the dangers of crossing borders without proper authorisation.
This incident underscores the perils associated with online romantic enticements leading to illegal border crossings. Through coordinated efforts and strict adherence to safety protocols, the BGB and BSF successfully returned the young woman unharmed. The case serves as an important cautionary tale, reinforcing the necessity of border security vigilance and public awareness regarding the potential consequences of unauthorised crossings.
The BGB continues to maintain regular border surveillance and actively advises citizens on responsible social media use and legal travel procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.