For the 36 students studying in Brahmanbaria Medical College in the bordering district of Bangladesh adjoining Tripura, BSF will always be remembered as their saviour. On Saturday (July 20), early in the morning, Patel Piyush Purushottom Patel, Inspector General of Tripura Frontier, BSF, received a frantic call from the distraught parent of one the students studying in the Brahmanbaria Medical College, Bangladesh. He was told of plight of Indian students stranded there and with no internet and mobile network it was difficult to ascertain their wellbeing.

A BSF press statement said that IG BSF, Tripura immediately got in touch with the Region Commander of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) at Comilla and the channels between the two border guarding forces were activated. In a well-planned and coordinated operation BSF and BGB acted in tandem displaying synergy. BGB took care of their safe passage up to the border near BOP Akhura and thereafter BSF took care of these students. These students were welcomed with hot food and refreshment at the border and further transported in BSF vehicles for further move to their destinations.

Indian students are returning to India through different ICPs along the Tripura state due to the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.

Today, till Saturday afternoon approximately 100 students including those from Nepal have returned using valid documents. More are expected and are on the way.

BSF is closely monitoring the situation across the border and troops are on high alert.

IG, BSF has also assured all possible assistance to these students and has further spoken to the Border Guards Bangladesh officers for cooperation at their end.

BSF has made all necessary arrangements including refreshments and transport at the ICP to facilitate smooth arrival and further movement of these students to their destination. BSF is not only India’s first line of defence but also the first responder to all such crisis.