The Border Security Force (BSF) of India has reinforced their push-in drive and taken positions in bunkers and trenches with heavy weapons along border with Bangladesh, the official Bangladesh News Agency reported Wednesday.
The BSF has evacuated nearly 15,000 Indian villagers from areas opposite to the northwestern frontier of Lalmonirh at district of Bangladesh and they are trying to use 1,500 Bengali-speaking Indian push-in victims as a human shield in the no-man's land, the report said.
The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in cooperation with local people has so far effectively resisted 46 push-in attempts by the BSF, according to the news agency.
The BSF has assembled over 25,000 Bengali-speaking Indian nationals, including women and children, in the bordering areas.
BDR personnel have been put on alert after thwarting several BSF attempts to push Bengali-speaking Indian Muslims into Bangladesh.
The BDR earlier repeatedly requested the BSF for holding flag meeting to quell the situation, but no response was received yet from the Indian side, BDR sources said.
The BDR has also mobilized its strength along the borders to foil further push-in attempts or attacks.
It was reported that nearly 8,000 Indian terrorists and cadres of Indian ruling party have been assisting the BSF in the border areas opposite Bangladesh's northwestern districts.
Thousands of the push-in victims are now facing acute food crisis in these areas.
(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2003)
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