The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed at least 26 more individuals—including four Rohingyas—into Bangladesh on Friday morning through various border points in Naogaon and Moulvibazar districts.

With these latest push-backs, the total number of people forcibly returned to Bangladesh by the BSF since 7 May has risen to 2,055. Among them are at least 173 Rohingyas, including 50 registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in India.

According to a senior Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) official, 18 people were pushed back at dawn through multiple border points in Dhamoirhat and Sapahar upazilas of Naogaon district. A patrol team from the Kalupara border outpost in Dhamoirhat found 14 people—including four children and five women—wandering in a mango orchard at Satnapara, roughly fifty yards inside Bangladeshi territory.

During initial questioning, the adults said they had crossed into India several years ago via the Satkhira and Benapole borders to work in Mumbai. They were later arrested by Indian police and returned to Bangladesh early Friday by BSF personnel from the Balurghat camp, the BGB official added.

Abdul Aziz, officer-in-charge of Sapahar police station, told New Age that BGB members detained four more people—two adults and two children—after their return through the Chhatrahati border point in West Bengal. The detainees had gone to Mumbai years ago, primarily working as domestic helpers. After their arrest by Mumbai police, they were sent to the Chhatrahati BSF camp before being pushed back into Bangladesh at dawn. Legal proceedings have been initiated against them for illegal entry into India.

In Moulvibazar’s Baralekha upazila, Indian BSF returned eight people, including four Rohingyas, through the Batamoral Punji border point. BGB 52 Battalion Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the group consisted of four Rohingyas—a man, a woman, and two children—and four Bangladeshis—two men and two women. They were pushed into Bangladesh in two phases between 7:00 am and noon on Friday.

The detainees admitted to having crossed into India illegally several months ago in search of work. Baralekha police station officer-in-charge Abul Kasem Sarker said authorities were completing formalities to transfer the Rohingyas to the refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, while the Bangladeshi nationals would be sent to their families.

Rupan Chakma, patrol commander of the BGB at Dhamoirhat Kalupara, reported that among those pushed back, 14 people—including six females, a teenager, three children, and four youths—were found around 3:00 am near the border. The group included Badsha Mia (20), Imran Gazi (34), Nazmul Hasan (24), Suma (4), Raihan (4), Nupur (22), Ashika (4), Munia (18), Rakeya (28), Babu (17), Priya (26), Fatema (7), Babita (35), and Duli (40).

Dhamoirhat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Imam Zafar said legal action would be taken after the detainees were formally handed over by the BGB.

Separately, four individuals—two women and two children—were pushed back into Bangladesh early Friday through the Bamanpara border under Sapahar Police Station jurisdiction. The BGB detained them inside Bangladesh. They were identified as Hena Khatun (38), Rupali Khatun (35), Chadni (8), and Ramjan (2). They have been handed over to Sapahar police, where Officer-in-Charge Abdul Aziz confirmed that legal procedures are ongoing.

In May, Assam’s BJP Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly acknowledged that authorities had “pushed back” 330 alleged illegal immigrants into Bangladesh.