The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party political alliance has announced a two-day protest programme demanding an end to alleged push-ins from India and the killing of Bangladeshi citizens along the border.
The announcement was made by Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, at a press briefing held at the party’s central office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on Wednesday.
According to the programme, protest rallies will be organised on 12 June in border districts and key border points across the country. A larger rally and procession are scheduled to take place in Dhaka on 15 June.
Hamidur Rahman Azad said border killings had long been a concern, but claimed the situation has become more serious under the current administration. Referring to reports published in national newspapers, he alleged that attempts were made to push people into Bangladesh at more than 50 locations along the border during March, April and May, involving 2,479 individuals.
He also claimed that during the first 100 days of the current government, 19 Bangladeshis were killed and 24 others injured in firing incidents involving India’s Border Security Force (BSF). In addition, he alleged that 83 people were detained or abducted by the BSF and Myanmar’s Arakan Army.
Criticising remarks made by the home minister, Hamidur Rahman Azad said that there is no legal justification for border killings, arguing that due legal procedures should always be followed even in cases of alleged crimes. He described such incidents as violations of human rights and Bangladesh’s sovereignty.
He further accused the government of failing to respond effectively to the border situation, and reiterated that push-ins would be resisted “at any cost.”
National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, who also spoke at the briefing, said people living near the zero line are facing a humanitarian crisis and are in urgent need of food and water.
He called for stronger border surveillance and urged the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to be reinforced to prevent illegal entry, suggesting that border communities form human shields against smugglers and criminals.
Patwary also criticised government officials for describing the issue as merely an internal matter of India, saying that the lives and sovereignty of Bangladeshi citizens are directly affected.
Leaders of the alliance at the press conference also urged the government to adopt a stronger foreign policy to protect national interests.
