Rajganj, 10th August: An Indian youth who was allegedly taken to Bangladesh while working on his own land along the India-Bangladesh border in Rajganj has not yet been brought back to India, raising concern among his family and residents of the border areas.
Dipankar Gope had gone to work on his own land through Gate No. 32 at the Chaulhati border on Saturday. He was allegedly working at his tea garden located in the zero land area when several Bangladeshi nationals forcibly detained him and took him across the border.
Since then, the BSF and administration have been making efforts to bring Dipankar back to India. However, despite multiple rounds of flag meetings, no solution had been reached.
A ‘retaliation’ or ‘exchange’ theory also emerged in connection with the incident. A few days ago, a Bangladeshi elderly woman had allegedly crossed the border and entered India, following which she was detained by the BSF. It was reportedly being claimed that Bangladesh had sought her handover in exchange for Dipankar.
On Sunday, senior BSF officials reached the Chaulhati border. Rajganj Police Station IC Amitava Das and other police officials, along with Rajganj MLA Dinesh Sarkar, also reached the spot.
A flag meeting between the BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) began at around 3:30 pm and continued for nearly one and a half hours. However, no final decision was reached regarding Dipankar’s return, and the meeting ended at around 5 pm.
Later in the evening, several residents from Chaulhati, Gathiyapara, Tasar Mohammadpara, Nawa Para and surrounding areas gathered outside the Chaulhati BOP demanding Dipankar’s immediate release.
As the situation became tense, police and BSF personnel and officials reached the spot. Rajganj Police Station IC Amitava Das spoke to the residents and helped bring the situation under control. The residents left the area at around 7 pm.
Meanwhile, according to Bangladeshi media reports, Dipankar Gope, who was reportedly detained by locals in Birajot under Panchagarh Sadar Upazila, was handed over by the BGB to Panchagarh Sadar Police Station on Sunday evening.
The handover reportedly took place after a battalion commander-level flag meeting between the BGB and BSF at the Magurmari border in Panchagarh Sadar Upazila.
Rajganj MLA Dinesh Sarkar said that a demand had been raised by the Bangladesh side during the flag meeting. According to him, a Bangladeshi national who was detained in India is currently in judicial custody following a court order, and Bangladesh had demanded his release in exchange for Dipankar.
Sarkar said all possible efforts were being made to bring Dipankar back to India and that the matter was also being discussed at a higher level.
Two days after the incident, Dipankar’s family and residents of the border areas are awaiting further developments regarding his return to India.