Twelve individuals who had been stranded on the zero line along the Kustia-Daulatpur border were taken back into Indian territory by the Border Security Force (BSF) following a flag meeting held between the border forces on Monday at around 11:00 a.m. The development ended a 78-hour period of uncertainty for the group, which included four children.
According to confirmation provided by Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Kamal, commanding officer of the Kustia 47 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion, the situation across all border areas under Kustia has now returned to a normal and stable condition.
Chronology of Events
The incident began at approximately 5:00 a.m. on Friday, when an attempt was made by the BSF to push the 12 individuals into Bangladesh through the Pragpur border area under Daulatpur upazila of Kustia. However, members of the Border Guard Bangladesh, along with local residents, intervened and prevented their entry into Bangladeshi territory.
Following this, the group remained stranded along the zero line, the narrow strip between the two countries. Initial discussions during a flag meeting indicated that the BSF was verifying whether the individuals were Indian nationals. It was stated that if their nationality was confirmed, they would be taken back into India. On the Bangladeshi side, BGB officials maintained that they were conducting their own position in line with border protocols.
As the standoff continued without resolution, the 12 individuals endured significant hardship over three consecutive days. They reportedly faced difficulties related to food and shelter while remaining in an exposed border area. Local residents from the Bangladeshi side provided them with limited food support during this period. The group spent their nights in the vicinity of paddy field bunds along the border.
A final flag meeting took place at around 10:30 a.m. on Monday near border pillar 148/3-S, where the individuals were located. Representatives from both sides participated in the discussion. The BGB delegation was led by Deputy Commanding Officer Nurul Huda of the Kustia 47 Battalion, while the BSF side was represented by Assistant Commandant Sunil Kumar Yadav of the Raninagar Company in West Bengal.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, the BSF formally took custody of the 12 individuals from the zero line and escorted them back into Indian territory.
Summary of Key Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Total individuals involved | 12 |
| Children among them | 4 |
| Initial incident time | Friday, 5:00 a.m. |
| Duration of standoff | Approximately 78 hours |
| Final resolution time | Monday, around 11:00 a.m. |
| Location | Pragpur border area, Daulatpur, Kustia (pillar 148/3-S) |
| Bangladeshi authority | Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 47 Battalion |
| Indian authority | Border Security Force (BSF), Raninagar Company |
Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Kamal confirmed that following the resolution through the flag meeting