Bangladesh accused a group of Indian border guards of intruding into its territory today in an escalating row over their long and porous 4,000-kilometre border.
A group of 20 men from India's Border Security Force crossed into Bangladesh in full battle gear at Majhipara, 500 km northwest of Dhaka, a Bangladeshi officer said.
The Indian troops withdrew after moving along a border road for about half an hour, he said, adding that Dhaka had since sent more forces at the border.
There was no immediate comment from India, which earlier this month accused Dhaka of killing an Indian border commander without any provocation.
Yesterday, Indian troops shot dead a Bangladeshi as he crossed into India in Satkhira district, 360 kilometres from Dhaka, taking the number of Bangladeshis killed at the border to five in as many days, the Bangladeshi officer said.
Bangladesh insists trespassers, who might have often walked across the porous border unknowingly or by mistake, should be arrested instead of being killed instantly.
India is building a fence along the border and says it is fed up with smugglers and rebels crossing over.
Dhaka claims many of its criminals have found shelter in India.