District correspondent, Sylhet:
Tensions have escalated between the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) over the occupation of a playground at the Naljuri border in Gowainghat Upazila, Sylhet.
The situation, which began on Thursday morning, has seen active involvement from local residents.
According to local sources, the BSF is attempting to seize a playground that has been in use since Bangladesh’s independence. The Indian force claims that the field was handed over to India 15 years ago by the then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, this claim has been strongly denied by the BGB and local residents. The field is known as the only place for children, teenagers, and youth in the area to play sports.
The incident began on Wednesday and escalated on Thursday morning when BSF personnel attempted to hoist red flags on the field. This sparked strong reactions from local residents, who gathered in large numbers to protect the field. The situation quickly became heated.
BGB personnel tried to de-escalate the situation and urged locals to move away from the field. However, the locals remained steadfast in their efforts to protect the playground. Meanwhile, members of the Khasi community from India joined the BSF on the other side of the border, raising concerns about the potential for a major untoward incident in the border area.
Lieutenant Colonel Md. Nazmul Haque, Commanding Officer of the Sylhet Battalion 48 of BGB, said, “Tensions arose between BSF and local residents over a border survey. The BGB intervened to bring the situation under control. The situation is currently calm.”
At present, additional BGB forces have been deployed in the border area, and there is a possibility of a flag meeting between the border security forces of both countries.
