The border guards of Bangladesh and India also agreed to hold a battalion commander-level flag meeting at 9:30am today.

Villagers in Boshalupara said two BSF members were killed during the shootout but the BDR did not confirm it.

Earlier in the morning, the BSF started indiscriminate firing using heavy artillery and machineguns along the border.

The BSF troops shot over 2,500 bullets until 6:20pm and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) retaliated with 150-round gunshots, official sources and people of the frontier area said.

They said workers of a contractor of the Water Development Board (WDB) of Bangladesh started constructing a flood control revetment on the bank of the river Nagor, 300 yards off the zero point near the Boshalupara BDR outpost.

At one stage, the BSF from Moragoti camp intruded into Bangladesh territory, threatened the WDB workers at gunpoint to stop the construction.

Patrolling BDR troops asked the BSF not to meddle in the matter violating the Indo-Bangla Joint Border Guide Line (IBJBGL), 1975.

The BSF troops retreated but started indiscriminate firing at the BDR troops and WDB workers. The BDR also fired two warning shots in the air.

The shooting continued for about 15 minutes and the BSF fired about 100 shots and the BDR 12 shots.

The BSF later mobilised its strength in bunkers and trenches along the border with heavy weapons creating a very tense situation.

After a break of four hours, the BSF resumed firing of heavy machineguns with brief pauses at 3:00pm, refusing a flag meeting proposed by the BDR.

Frontier people said unknown number of Indian civilians were hurt in the crossfire.

Meanwhile, villagers on both sides were leaving the areas in panic, fearing the BSF may use heavier weapons. The BDR was also consolidating its strength to encounter BSF actions.

Commanding Officer of BDR 20 Rifle Battalion Lt Col Mostafizur Rahman rushed to the area, sources said.