Feni Border Sees Alarming Surge in Infiltration by Foreign Nationals
Feni, April 10 -- The Feni district, especially the regions near Pashuram and Belonia borders adjacent to India’s Tripura state, is experiencing an alarming increase in the entry of foreigners.
In the last five months, this isolated border region has transformed into a growing hub for illegal transboundary activities, with Africans being notably involved.
From 1 November last year to 7 April this year, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained six African nationals who had illegally attempted to cross the border.
These events have sparked queries regarding the increasing utilization of the Feni border by global human trafficking organizations.
As per authorities, those who have been apprehended frequently state that they misplaced their passports and travel papers.
Usually, their cellphones are kept unconnected, making attempts to track their conversations pointless.
After being arrested, these individuals from abroad appear in court but manage to obtain bail soon afterward, reportedly with assistance from local legal helpers and organized criminal networks involved in human smuggling.
The following information is even more unsettling: upon release, the intruders allegedly reestablish contact through WhatsApp using international phone numbers and start to reform their groups.
The repeated occurrence of these incidents highlights the consistent and structured nature of the trafficking activities.
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The stakeholders, such as the BGB, believe there may be a cross-border criminal operation linked with smugglers from Bangladesh and India.
Lt. ColMd Mosharraf Hossain, Commandant of BGB Battalion-4, stated that they are uncertain about the reasons behind Feni becoming a focus for infiltration.
"In spite of rigorous monitoring, these crossings persist, which is profoundly troubling," he stated.
A recent incident took place on Sunday evening when the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested Amina Shahbani, a 33-year-old woman from Tanzania, as she tried to unlawfully enter India from Bangladesh via the Nijkalikapur border in Parshuram upazila.
It was reported that she was accompanied to the border from Feni's Mohipal by two Bangladeshis named Abdul Motaleb and Sumon.
A lawsuit has now been initiated against seven people, including the two accused co-conspirators.
Notable arrests also encompassed individuals such as Ethiopia’s Israt Umar Haji, aged 67, detained in November; Nigeria’s Emika Gilbert Apeh, who was 45 years old and apprehended in December; along with Sudan’s Islam, 26, taken into custody in January.
In March, Abdiwali Mohamed Ali, who is Somali, and Nawsu Izuchukwu Calista, who is Nigerian, were apprehended while attempting to enter Bangladesh from India.
According to local informants, smugglers favor pathways via Nijkalikapur village within the Mirzanagar union as well as along the borders of Baurpathar village at Mirpara-Belonia. This preference stems from assumed vulnerabilities in security measures and potential collaboration with locals.
On November 25th, authorities in India arrested two Bangladeshi nationals named Raju and Mohammad Ibrahim for allegedly being involved in human trafficking activities.
In a separate case, authorities detained a Sudanese national along with a 50-year-old local man identified as Emran in January. They faced accusations related to cross-border smuggling activities.
Law enforcement organizations believe that numerous individuals from abroad intend to arrive in European nations with the objective of seeking political asylum.
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Agents are said to be assisting them in acquiring UN refugee documents, which allows them to access refugee camps and start their asylum procedures.
Abdili Mohamed Ali, a Somali national, was discovered with a refugee document issued by UNHCR that he had obtained in India.
"Information has been obtained regarding an organized group that aids in the transborder movement of these foreign individuals," stated Mohammad Nurul Hakim, who serves as the officer-in-charge at Parshuram Model Police Station.
"Ongoing investigations aim to identify and arrest everyone involved," Hakim stated.
The Superintendent of Police for Feni, Habibur Rahman, supported the officer-in-charge's views.
"The reason for the increase is still not evident," he stated.
The statements of detainees vary during questioning. Even though certain suspects remain incarcerated, they choose not to reveal vital details.
"After being arrested and detained, they often get released on bail via the courts and, in certain instances, acquire legal visas to stay in Bangladesh," he further stated.
The authorities continue to stay vigilant, yet tackling these illegal operations remains difficult due to well-organized cross-border networks taking advantage of legal gaps and local ties, making the situation near the Feni border seem far from resolved.