Missing Elderly Man Allegedly Pushed In by BSF Reunited With Family After Border Ordeal

An elderly man who allegedly became the victim of a cross-border push-in attempt has finally returned to his family after an emotional reunion facilitated by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local police authorities.

Shasthi Chandra Barman, 60, was formally handed over to his relatives on Thursday afternoon by members of BGB's Jamalpur-35 Battalion and officials from Bakshiganj Police Station. The transfer took place at around 4:30pm after authorities completed identity verification and other legal procedures.

Barman, a resident of Chandlai village in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi district and son of the late Babu Chandra Barman, had reportedly been missing from his home for nearly two months.
 

According to local sources and family members, the incident unfolded on Wednesday morning near border pillar 1082 in the Ramrampur area of Bakshiganj. It is alleged that members of the Indian Border Security Force attempted to push Barman into Bangladesh through the Dhanuya-Kamalpur border area.
 

However, alert BGB personnel and local residents resisted the move, forcing the alleged push-in attempt to fail. Witnesses said the elderly man was subsequently left stranded in the no-man's land between the two countries.
 

When Barman attempted to enter Bangladesh, he was initially prevented from doing so by border guards and local residents due to uncertainty surrounding his identity and nationality. He later returned to the zero line, where he remained trapped.

The situation escalated as officials from BGB and BSF held a flag meeting to resolve the matter. Despite discussions, neither side initially agreed to take responsibility for the elderly man. Tensions also spread among residents on both sides of the border, eventually leading to a brief chase and counter-chase near the barbed-wire fence.
 

Unable to find refuge in either country, Barman spent the night in the no-man's land.

The deadlock was broken after videos of the incident circulated widely on social media and news platforms. Family members recognized Barman from the footage and immediately contacted BGB officials.
 

Following verification of his identity, authorities rescued him from the border area and placed him under police protection at Bakshiganj Police Station.
 

On Thursday afternoon, Barman's elder brother, Bhobani Barman, and his son-in-law, Rod Chandra Barman, travelled from Rajshahi to Jamalpur to bring him home. Witnesses described emotional scenes as the two brothers embraced each other after the prolonged separation.
 

"My brother suddenly went missing two months ago," Bhobani Barman said. "We are poor people and had neither the means nor the resources to pursue the matter with the police. Yesterday, my son saw a video online and recognised my brother at the Jamalpur border. We contacted the BGB immediately. Today, we have finally found him."

Officer-in-Charge of Bakshiganj Police Station, Mohammad Makbul Hossain, confirmed the development.

"The family of the rescued individual contacted us and verified his identity. After completing all legal procedures, he was handed over to his relatives this afternoon," the police official said.

Shortly after 5:00pm, a white microbus carrying Shasthi Chandra Barman and his family departed Jamalpur for their home in Rajshahi, bringing an end to a distressing chapter marked by uncertainty, international tension and an extraordinary family reunion.