BSF fires at Bangladeshis, takes away four boats along border
BSF Firing and Boat Seizure Raise Tension on Dharla River Border
Thebangladaily.com – Bangladesh’s border authorities have lodged a protest after India’s Border Security Force (BSF) fired five blank rounds near the Dharla River frontier and took away four small boats used by Bangladeshi sand and stone collectors. The incident took place around noon on Thursday near the Burimari land port area in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat.
No injuries were reported, but the gunfire alarmed people living close to the Bangladesh-India border. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) increased vigilance in the area and sought a flag meeting with the BSF following the incident.
Dispute over location of sand collectors
The Dharla is a transboundary river that reaches Bangladesh through Burimari Union after passing the Changrabandha border area under Mekhliganj Police Station in India’s Cooch Behar district, West Bengal. Residents on the Bangladeshi side use non-mechanised boats to collect sand and stones from parts of the river near the zero line, an activity that provides income for several families in the border region.
Witnesses said 20 to 25 BSF personnel arrived at the riverbank on Thursday. They said two members of the force raised their weapons and fired in the direction of Bangladeshis working from boats in the river. Local residents alleged that BSF personnel moved roughly 15 yards into Bangladeshi territory before firing and then removed four boats.
Several eyewitnesses, who did not want to be named, maintained that the collectors had remained on the Bangladeshi side and had not crossed into India. Video footage shared on social media appeared to show BSF personnel entering the river, striking and damaging boats, and taking several vessels away.
The BGB gave a different account of the precise location in its official statement. It said Bangladeshi citizens had gone to Barmatal, an area about 20 yards inside Indian territory between border pillars, after which BSF members fired five blank rounds. The statement added that the BSF took four boats from the riverbank to its camp.
Border pillars and patrol details
The disputed area lies near Border Pillar No. 842, between sub-pillars 4 and 5, opposite Burimari Union and the Changrabandha border area. BGB and border sources identified the BSF patrol as members of the 62 Battalion from Panishala Camp.
Once information about the firing reached Bangladeshi authorities, a BGB patrol from Poyshatbari BGB Camp under Srirampur Union went to the location. The commander of the Burimari company headquarters then protested to the commander of the BSF’s Panishala Camp and requested a flag meeting.
Company commanders from Burimari and Changrabandha met near the site at around 6:30pm, roughly five hours after the incident. The BGB raised objections to the firing during that meeting. The matter was also conveyed to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and the local Officer-in-Charge.
“I heard that a flag meeting was held at the company commander level. I am outside at the moment, so I cannot provide details. I will inform you after finding out,” said Karimul Islam, assistant director of BGB 61 Battalion (Teesta-2).
Burimari Company Commander Subedar Rezaul Karim did not provide details of the discussion held during the flag meeting.
Why the river border is sensitive
River boundaries can be particularly difficult for people living near international frontiers. Daily work such as collecting sand and stones may take place close to a zero line that is not always physically marked in the same way as land borders. The Dharla’s changing river environment and the presence of working boats make careful coordination important for preventing misunderstandings and protecting civilians.
The seizure of boats is significant for those who depend on them for work. These were small, non-mechanised vessels used to gather river materials, and losing access to them can interrupt the livelihoods of families who rely on the activity. The reports of damage to boats have also added to concern among local residents.
At the same time, the conflicting descriptions of where the Bangladeshi citizens were located underline the importance of clarifying events through established border channels. The BGB protest and company-level flag meeting are part of the mechanism used by the two border forces to address incidents, share their respective accounts and try to reduce the risk of further escalation.
The BGB’s heightened alert reflects the sensitivity of the situation in the Burimari frontier zone. While no one was hurt in Thursday’s firing, residents remain anxious after the incident, particularly because it involved gunfire near people carrying out routine work on the river.
Further details about the discussion between the two sides, including the status of the four boats, were not immediately disclosed. The incident has nevertheless drawn attention to the need for restraint and clear communication in border areas where communities depend on shared rivers for their livelihoods.
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