BSF returns body of cattle trader 15 days later

Indian Border Security Force has returned the body of a Bangladeshi cattle trader, 15 days after shooting him dead in the Indian territory.

Border Guard Bangladesh received the body of Abul Kashem at a flag meeting held in no man's land near Mahishkundi border area of Kushtia's Daulatpur upazila on Friday afternoon.

Kashem, 35, was from Challishpara border area in the same upazila.

Subedar Delwar Hossain, Mahishkundi company commander of BGB 47 Battalion, said Kashem was killed around 9:30pm on August 14 in the Indian side of the border near Ramkrishnapur union of Daulatpur.

"The BSF claimed that Kashem had entered the Indian territory illegally and its members opened fire on him in Majdiar area under Jalangi Police Station," Delwar told The Daily Star quoting Balram Singh, commander of Jalangi BSF camp in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, as saying.

Balram led the BSF team to the flag meeting. Daulatpur OC Nishikanta Roy was present.

Kashem's brother Abul Hossain Mithu said his brother was a cattle trader. He went to the border area on August 14 and was killed by the BSF.

The Daily Star could not confirm why the handover of the body was delayed for 15 days.