Videos of people shouting and pelting stones from both sides of the India-Bangladesh border in Chapainawabganj surfaced on Facebook on Saturday afternoon. They were seen wielding sharp weapons and sticks and throwing bricks at each other in the latest round of border tension between the two countries.

Members of the Border Guard Police (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) were trying to ease the tension frantically in a 3km area of the border.

News reports suggest that the BSF fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the Bangladeshis. Two to three Bangladeshis were injured during the clashes Chouka area under Binodpur Union of Shibgabj Upazila.

It occurred amid border tension over the BSF’s construction of barbed wire fencing for several days since January 6.

Recently, in Lalmonirhat, the BSF set up barbed wire fences on the zero line and hung alcohol bottles, raising eyebrows.

Shibir campaign

On the other hand, while videos by Bangladeshis showed the paramilitary BGB asking people to move away, they were reluctant to neutralize those possessing sharp weapons.

One of them, a youth wearing a white t-shirt and red shoes, was wielding a long cleaver and chanting the slogan “Naraye Taqbir” repeatedly. After some time, the youth was seen approaching the cameraperson, and the video ended.

His body language and the slogan imply that he’s an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student front of Jamaat-e-Islami. Also, the video was uploaded by the Basherkella Facebook page, which Shibir activists run.

His companion, another youth, was also chanting the slogan and flexing his hands while asking the Indians to come closer if they dare.

Another video showed dozens of people positioned in a mango orchard inside the Bangladesh border who were throwing bricks at the Indians and hurling abuses towards the Indian Hindus.

Between the sides were the mustard fields near Border Pillar No. 177 between Chouka and Kiran Ganj camps.

BSF regrets

Lieutenant Imrul Kayes, Deputy Commander of the 59th BGB Battalion, was at the scene. He told Dhaka Tribune that the BGB was trying to take the situation under control.

The clashes and tension eased around 4:30pm after the BGB and BSF officials conducted a flag meeting. Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria said the tension ensued over cutting down mango trees inside Bangladesh.

He couldn’t confirm the number of injured persons. “They (BSF) have violated international law by deploying tear gas shells to control the turbulent mob,” he said.

Reasons behind Saturday’s clashes

Locals alleged that Indian people entered the Bangladeshi territory near the zero line and cut down around 30 mango trees and hundreds of jujube trees.

Another source said the Bangladeshis reacted when some Indian nationals cut off some branches of mango trees and grass.

Md Kamal Uddin, Binodpur Union Parishad Member, said, “The BSF members illegally entered Bangladesh and cut the grass and branches of mango trees in our area. Later, they left the branches after being resisted by the BGB and locals.”

A BGB official, seeking anonymity, said in the morning, Indian residents complained that the Bangladeshis were cutting wheat from the land on the Indian side. At that time, when the Indian BSF members tried to detain some Bangladeshis, the villagers stopped them.

Protests in Dhaka University

Members of the “Anti-aggression students” staged a procession on the Dhaka University campus around 11pm on Saturday. They chanted slogans against India, asking people to retaliate.

The DU students have been observing the Boycott India campaign since January 2024. Later, the BNP and its allies joined the campaign.

On Sunday, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, “Even if blood is shed, the border will remain secure. We’re taking measures to enhance border security.”

Since the August 5 changeover, the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Prof Muhammad Yunus has been criticizing India for sheltering former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Moreover, the student leaders, social media influencers, and jihadists are irked by India for raising the issue of minority repression. They also blame India for promoting Hindutva ideology through Iskcon and the longstanding issues like border killings, the Teesta water sharing, transit facilities, and economic and cultural aggression. These groups began the India boycott campaign early last year.