Long wait for justice
Some wounds never heal.
It has been more than six years since Nurul Islam had to witness the most brutal incident in front of his own eyes -- his daughter being shot dead.
Felani Khatun was only 15.
Nurul has been reliving the horror ever since.
On January 7, 2011, on her way home from India with her father, Felani was shot by the members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) while crossing the border as her clothes got stuck in the barbed-wire fence at Aanatapur border point in Phulbari upazila, Kurigram.
The photo of her body hanging from the top of the fence triggered a global outcry and renewed the call for an end to border killings.
“I want justice…,” said Nurul. The resident of Kurigram's Nageshwari upazila was speaking at a press conference yesterday. The hearing on Felani murder case will be held on October 25 at Indian Supreme Court.
Nurul demanded that both the India and Bangladesh governments ensure justice for his daughter by handing down capital punishment to the alleged shooter --- Amiya Ghosh, a BSF constable, --- and punishing the other culprits.
Amiya faced two phases of trial in a BSF internal court. In both cases, he was acquitted.
“Amiya Ghosh killed my daughter in front of me. I could not save her…,” said an emotion-choked Nurul. “It has been six long years; we are still awaiting justice.”
The conference was organised by Nagarik Parishad, a civic platform, in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
Speaking at the conference, Mohammad Shamsuddin, its convener, said, “They [Felani and her father] were innocent and unarmed, but the BSF killed her in the name of security threat.”
He said there would not be an end to border killings, if justice is not served in the Felani murder case.
The speakers also demanded stopping border killing, paying compensation to the family, observing January 7 as Felani Day, and naming the Anantapur border after her.
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