Jamalpur:
 
A middle-aged woman has been stranded for five days in an open field along the zero line of the Bangladesh-India border in Jamalpur, unable to enter either country as border guards from both sides prevent her from crossing.
 
The woman has been staying near international border pillar 1076, about 200 yards inside Indian territory, in the Pathorer Char border area of Dewanganj upazila. Exposed to scorching sunlight during the day and the open sky at night, her prolonged stay has raised serious concerns among local residents about her physical condition and safety.
 
She was still there at around 2:30pm on Saturday, having reportedly remained at the spot since Tuesday morning.
 
According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local sources, the Border Security Force (BSF) attempted to push the woman into Bangladesh through the Pathorer Char border near pillar 1076 at around 8:00am on Tuesday. The attempt was thwarted by BGB personnel and local residents. She has since remained in the no man's land between the two countries.
 
With border guards on both sides maintaining heightened vigilance, the woman has been unable to enter either country for the past five days. The situation has effectively left her stranded in harsh weather conditions, with no proper shelter or basic facilities.
 
Residents said villagers have occasionally provided her with biscuits, drinking water and dry food. However, they fear that such limited assistance is insufficient to sustain her for an extended period.
 
Monir Hossain, a resident of Pathorer Char, said the woman was enduring extreme hardship after spending five consecutive days in the open.
 
“She has no shelter over her head. She has to endure the scorching sun during the day and spend the nights under the open sky. Villagers are giving her biscuits, water and dry food whenever possible, according to their means. But every person needs at least basic facilities to rest and survive. No one can remain in such conditions for days. The matter needs an urgent humanitarian solution,” he said.
 
During a visit to the area on Thursday afternoon, the woman was seen sitting on a blanket spread over some straw in an open field between the two countries. India was to her north and south, while Bangladesh lay to the west. Several plastic water bottles and a packet of biscuits were lying beside her.
 
She appeared frightened and exhausted, occasionally getting up and trying to move around the area.
 
Another local resident, Md Al Amin, said villagers believed the woman might be mentally unstable, as her speech appeared incoherent. However, they could not determine where she had come from or which country or area she belonged to.
 
“We live in this border area and have seen her here for the past five days. She appears to be mentally unwell, and her conversations are incoherent. We do not know where she came from or where she belongs. Neither the BGB nor the BSF is willing to take her in. We are worried and uncomfortable about the situation. How long can a woman be left here like this?” he said.
 
Lieutenant Colonel Hasanur Rahman, commanding officer of the BGB's 35 Battalion in Jamalpur, said the BSF had initially attempted to push the woman into Bangladesh but was now denying that she belonged to India.
 
“We have contacted them repeatedly. Their position is that the woman is not theirs. The BGB is maintaining the highest level of vigilance to prevent any illegal entry or attempt to push someone across the border,” he said.
 
The prolonged standoff has left the woman in a vulnerable situation, with local residents calling for urgent action by the authorities concerned to ensure her safety and reach a humanitarian resolution.