Rajshahi, May 10 (V7N)- Amid ongoing firing and drone and missile attacks in the border areas between India and Pakistan, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified patrols along the Bangladesh-India border in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj. As part of these heightened security measures, four individuals attempting to enter Bangladesh illegally through the Godagari and Charghat borders were apprehended on Wednesday night and subsequently handed over to the local police.  

Multiple BGB sources have indicated that to prevent infiltration and ensure border security, agricultural activities have been restricted to the hours between 8 am and 5 pm. Additionally, fishing in the Padma River, passenger crossings, and the presence of outsiders in the char (riverine land) areas have been completely prohibited after the afternoon.

Local residents in border areas, including Char Ashariadah in Godagari, are being informed through mosque announcements. While individuals are instructed to work in the fields alone, group movements are being discouraged. Strict restrictions have also been imposed on going to the river after evening, boating, and staying in the char areas.

Mozammel Haque, a member of Ward No. 5 of Char Ashariadah Union, confirmed the BGB's announcements through mosque loudspeakers, stating that people should be in the fields between 8 am and 5 pm, and that outsiders are banned from staying in the char.

Local residents have responded positively to these measures. Sohel Rana, a local, commented that the BGB's initiative is beneficial, as it has reduced movement near the border significantly.

While the commander of BGB's Rajshahi-1 battalion did not provide an official statement, two officials from the organization confirmed the arrest of the four infiltrators – two at the Godagari border and two at the Charghat border – who were later transferred to the local police station.

The BGB has stated that an alert has been issued to safeguard public safety and sovereignty in the border regions, with increased patrols and intelligence surveillance. Rajshahi district shares a 76-kilometer border with India, of which only 11 kilometers are fenced. In this context, the BGB is implementing extra precautionary measures to maintain border control.

Meanwhile, the BGB has also intensified patrols and increased surveillance along the Chapainawabganj border to prevent any untoward incidents and halt illegal infiltration. Alongside patrols, the BGB is actively working to raise awareness among Bangladeshi citizens residing in border areas, urging them to immediately report any sightings of outsiders to facilitate swift legal action.

In this regard, Lt. Col. Golam Kibria, commander of Mahananda Battalion 59 BGB, affirmed that BGB patrols are ongoing to prevent illegal infiltration, including smuggling, at the border.  

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