Jawans of 120 bn BSF turned out to a Good Samaritan to over 500 hapless Bangladeshi nationals who got stranded at the Akhaura Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Agartala on Friday evening.
Taking the Indo-Bangla bilateral relationships to a new height, BSF jawans took the Bangladeshi nationals under their wings and arranged basic facilities for them in a prompt manner.
More than 500 Bangladeshi nationals including women and children cleared the immigration procedures in Bangladesh on their way to Agartala today. However, as they were stuck up in the immigration counter on the Indian side as the counter was already closed for the day.
The immigration counter on Indian side works during specific office hours and the facility of 24X7 services is not available. This left the Bangladeshi nationals, especially the women and children in a helpless situation.
Soon the matter came to the notice of the alert BSF personnel of the 120 battalion posted in the Indo-Bangla border in Agartala and jawans informed their higher authorities about the situation. Without any delay, BSF authority swung into action. They arranged basic facilities including emergency medical help for the Bangladeshi nationals stranded at the ICP.
According to BSF sources, the 120-bn BSF provided the stranded Bangladeshi nationals with shelter, food and drinking water. They also arranged milk for the children. The BSF canteen at the ICP was kept open for these stranded people. Ensuring hygiene, arrangements for toilets were also made.
A lady doctor was deputed there to provide medical support in case of any necessity. Senior officials including the Commander of the battalion Manish Gill are monitoring the arrangements so that stranded people do not face any trouble.
The gesture of the BSF has received huge applause from the Bangladeshi nationals. Gun wielding and stern looking BSF jawans turned to be a perfect host for the people who were in need of help. The help extended by the BSF not only earned praises for the battalion, it has also further harnessed the already cordial relationships between India and Bangladesh, an Agartala based senior journalist opined.