EXCLUSIVE
Shillong, June 28, 2025 — Amid rising concerns over the re-emergence of fundamentalist elements in Bangladesh, Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) Meghalaya Frontier, O.P. Upadhyay, while Taking to Meghalaya News 24 clarified that the force has not received any confirmed intelligence inputs regarding the presence or regrouping of insurgent groups from Meghalaya in Bangladesh.
While addressing media queries, IG Upadhyay said, “As such, we have not received any information or intelligence inputs about this. As far as BSF is concerned, we are not having any specific information. Some wild information is coming; we tried to verify, but it was not verified.”
He was responding to reports suggesting that individuals backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) might be attempting to create fundamentalist networks, allegedly with support from the controversial organisation Jihadi Jamate Islami in Bangladesh, which is being perceived by Indian agencies as a “so-called students organisation” receiving ISI funds.
On being asked about possible regrouping efforts by insurgent outfits and reports of their support from across the border, the IG said, “As far as our intelligence and the sister agencies’ intelligence are concerned, such kind of information is not available with us. Very wild information is coming, that is through media only.”
He further added, “If I go through the data and the record in the recent past—like in the last two to three years—I have not seen any incident of the Rohingyas exploiting the Meghalaya border.”
The porous and forested terrain along the Indo-Bangladesh border, especially in parts of Garo Hills, continues to remain vulnerable. However, the BSF has reiterated that no credible alerts have been received so far about cross-border insurgent presence or activity.
On the issue of infiltration or radicalisation of individuals through jails or educational institutions, the IG stated, “We have not taken any such information because this is a specialised job, and certain agencies are dedicated for that.”
With unverified claims surfacing in sections of the media, the BSF has maintained that its operations are guided strictly by intelligence-based action, and any such reports are being monitored closely in coordination with other security agencies.
Meanwhile, media reports from Bangladesh raise fresh concerns. Fundamentalist organisations are reportedly mobilising public sentiment and preparing to contest the country’s 13th general elections, expected in February 2026. These groups, including Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, have held massive rallies — such as the one in Dhaka on May 3, 2025 — demanding a greater political foothold.
According to a June 25 Dhaka Tribune report by Salman Tareque Sakil, five Islamic parties — Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Khilafat Majlish (KM), Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish (BKM), Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUeI) and Nezam-e-Islam (NI) — have formed a liaison committee to explore a joint electoral strategy. JUeI secretary general Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi stated on June 24, 2025, “We have taken the initiative to make the five Islamic parties float one candidate and one ballot box. That initiative is ongoing. The entire process has not been officially finalised yet.” He added, “We have formed a liaison committee. There has been no clear decision on the election process. There are differences of opinion on how we will unite, where we will all go together, whether we will join a large alliance. This is where we are.”
The report also noted that Jamaat-e-Islami, which had opposed the 1971 Liberation War, is not part of the current alliance talks — though its future involvement has not been ruled out.
