Temperatures soared on the India-Bangladesh border with a DIG-level Sector Commander of the Bangladesh Rifles being manhandled by stranded ‘‘illegal immigrants’’ today during the flag meeting with the BSF.The United News of Bangladesh news agency reported that Bangladesh border guards had stopped several attempts by Indian border troops to force more than 1,000 Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh through the Panchagarh frontier last night.The action on the border was reflected in the diplomatic escalation in New Delhi with Bangladesh High Commissioner Tufail Haider being summoned to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and handed over an aide-memoire. MEA Additional Secretary Meera Shankar firmly told Haider to take back the 213 Bangladesh nationals stranded in the ‘‘no man’s land’’ near a border post in the Cooch-Behar area for the past four days.The group of 213 people was apprehended by the BSF while they were being pushed into the Indian territory on January 31. The BDR refused to take them, saying they were Indian nationals carrying proof including ration cards and voter identity cards.The Bangladeshi envoy was told in no uncertain terms today that they had to accept their nationals, based on the agreement between the two countries. According to the agreed terms, it was to be done immediately on basis of statements given by the apprehended persons, or within three days where verification was required. ‘‘They’ve been screaming they’re Bangladeshis and want to go back,’’ said a senior BSF official.But as things stood today, neither side seemed to be giving up on their stance. ‘‘There is no way that we are going to let them enter Indian territory,’’ the official said. There have already been three flag meetings on the issue between the BSF and the BDR with all of them ending in a status quo. The meeting today was suspended mid-way as the BDR sector commander left in a huff after being manhandled by the stranded people.Initially, the Bangladeshi authorities tried to push them into India, waving the ‘‘documentary proof’’ being carried by the persons. However, on verification, the people turned out to be from Monirhu district in Bangladesh.
