West Bengal-based human rights organization Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has alleged that many people, including women, children, and families, are being forcibly pushed towards the zero line of the India-Bangladesh border on suspicion of being Bangladeshi. The organization claims that such actions have created a severe humanitarian crisis in the border areas.
In a statement released on Sunday, Ranjit Sur, Vice-President of APDR, stated that the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) is attempting to send many detained individuals, especially women and children, suspected of being Bangladeshi, towards Bangladesh by taking them to various border areas and threatening them with weapons.
The organization alleges that these individuals are being abandoned in the no man’s land or zero line of the border. However, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is not allowing them to enter Bangladesh, leaving them stranded in the area between the two countries’ borders. Consequently, many are forced to live inhumanely under the open sky for days without food, clean water, or essential medical facilities.
APDR reported that among those stranded are pregnant women, children, and the elderly. They are compelled to remain amidst sun, rain, and adverse weather conditions. According to the organization, after sending them to the zero line, the BSF refuses to take responsibility for them. On the other hand, the BGB states that no reliable evidence has been found to prove they are Bangladeshi citizens. As a result, these individuals are virtually without protection from any state.
The human rights organization has asserted that this situation is not merely a matter of border management; rather, it is a severe humanitarian crisis. According to them, India’s ‘Detect, Delete, and Deport’ or ‘3-D’ policy is one of the main causes of the current situation. APDR alleges that this policy is contrary to human rights and constitutional rights.
Meanwhile, conflicting statements regarding the border situation have emerged from the border guarding forces of both countries. Bangladeshi sources have reported that dozens of people have been observed stranded at various zero lines along the Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Naogaon, and Chapainawabganj borders recently. It is alleged that attempts were made to push them into Bangladesh.
Conversely, the Indian government states that the established bilateral process between the two countries is being followed to repatriate foreign nationals residing illegally. New Delhi also expressed hope for a swift response from Bangladesh regarding citizenship verification.
In protest of the situation, APDR has called for a demonstration program in Malda on June 11. The organization demands that all individuals stranded at the border be brought to a safe place and that decisions regarding them be made in accordance with international human rights standards.
The statement further emphasized that while ensuring border security is important, protecting the human dignity of women, children, and vulnerable individuals is equally crucial. According to the organization, resolving the current crisis requires an end to the ‘pushback’ policy, the rescue of those stranded in the zero line, and the abolition of India’s 3-D policy.