Jamaat-led alliance announces protests over push-ins, border killings

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance announced a two-day programme demanding an end to alleged push-ins from India and the killing of Bangladeshi citizens along the border.

Protest rallies will be held in border districts and key border points across Bangladesh on June 12, followed by a protest rally and procession in Dhaka on June 15, said Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-party alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, at a press conference at the party's central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka today.

Azad said that although border killings had long been a concern, the situation has become more alarming under the current government.

Citing reports published in national newspapers, he said attempts had been made to push people into Bangladesh at more than 50 locations along the border during March, April and May this year, involving 2,479 individuals.

Read more

India must rein in internal pressure on push-ins

He further claimed that during the first 100 days of the current government, 19 Bangladeshis were killed and 24 others injured by gunfire from India's Border Security Force (BSF). He also alleged that 83 people had been detained or abducted by the BSF and Myanmar's Arakan Army.

Criticising a recent statement by the home minister, Azad said, "There is no legal provision for killing anyone at the border. Even if a person commits a crime, there are legal procedures to arrest and bring them under the law. Directly shooting and killing people is a clear violation of human rights and an attack on Bangladesh's sovereignty."

He alleged that the government had failed to play an effective role in addressing the border situation.

Calling on the government to take action, he said, "We have remained uncompromising in defending the country's independence and sovereignty, and we will continue to do so. Push-ins will be resisted at any cost."

Also speaking at the press conference, National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said people near the zero line are facing humanitarian crisis, asking for food and water.

Calling for stronger border surveillance, he said, "The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) must be strengthened further to prevent push-ins. People in border areas should form a human shield so that terrorists, smugglers or criminals cannot enter Bangladesh."

The NCP leader also criticised remarks made by the home minister and several other government officials, saying the border situation cannot be viewed merely as an "internal matter" of India.

"The lives, security and sovereignty of the people of Bangladesh are involved here," he said.

At the press conference, leaders of the 11-party alliance also urged the government to pursue an effective foreign policy that safeguards Bangladesh's national interests.