Chase and Counter-Chase with BSF over Obstruction to Paddy Harvesting at Burimari Border, No Casualties

A chase and counter-chase between local people and members of India's Border Security Force (BSF) took place at the Burimari border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat, centred on obstruction to Bangladeshi farmers who had gone to harvest paddy. During the incident, the two sides clashed with sticks and there were incidents of beating.

Local sources said the incident took place before Saturday evening near pillar 837/4-S on the Bamondol border in Burimari union of Patgram upazila.

Locals claim that BSF members crossed the border and entered about 100 yards inside Bangladesh. When they tried to beat the farmers, local Bangladeshis gathered and resisted them with sticks. There are also allegations that at one stage the BSF members were chased and beaten.

During the incident, BSF members threw smoke grenades. However, there were no casualties, it has been reported.

The administrator of Burimari Union Parishad and the upazila agriculture officer said Bangladeshis had gone to cut paddy, the BSF obstructed them, then a chase and counter-chase-like incident took place between the two sides, and the BSF exploded cocktails.

Patgram police station officer-in-charge Saiful Islam confirmed the truth of the incident, citing the BGB. He said there were no casualties in the incident.

The additional director of BGB's 61 Battalion said the situation is currently calm. A BGB patrol team had gone to the spot. There were no casualties. He also said the BSF threw smoke grenades into the water of a drain.

For border farmers, going to the border area during the paddy-harvesting season is part of daily work. But when confusion or disagreement arises over the border line, such tension can develop and turn into a clash in a moment. This incident, too, began around farmers who had gone to harvest paddy.

At the centre of the locals' complaint is the matter of crossing the border and entering inside Bangladesh. Verifying this allegation and maintaining peace on the border now rests with the border forces of the two countries.

For now, the BGB has said the situation is calm. However, surveillance and patrols in the border area are expected to remain intensified after the incident, so that farmers can work safely during the harvesting season.

With no one injured in the incident, major damage was avoided. But the incident has once again brought to the fore the need for stronger communication and coordination between the two sides to prevent a repeat of such incidents on the border.