At least three Bangladeshis including a girl were killed in a fierce encounter between Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on Akhaura border yesterday.

The girl was identified as Nahid Akhter, 10, of Anwarpur village but identities of the two others could not be known as the BSF took away their bodies.

Unconfirmed reports however put the death toll to five. Thousands of locals have fled their homes fearing further gunfight.

BDR sources said BSF men entered Fakirmura village of Akhaura upazila at about 5:00pm and opened fire on the BDR, who had resisted the intruders.

The BDR returned fire. Both the border guards of the two neighbouring countries used sophisticated firearms during the shootout, sources said.

Villagers said Nahid was bullet-hit during the shootout and died at Akhaura Upazila Health Complex. The BSF took away the bodies of two Bangladeshis died in the shootout while two other bodies were lying on the zero-line, they claimed.

Thousands of locals of Fakirmura, Anwarpur, Kuripaika, Hirapur and Kalyanpur villages took refuge in Akhaura sadar, said officials of upazila administration and police.

Both sides have reinforced their positions following the clash.

Commanding Officer (CO) of 7 Rifles Battalion Lt Col Syed Quamruzzaman was on the frontline during the shootout.

The director (operations) of the BDR last night told The Daily Star that the BSF men entered Bangladesh territory and assaulted several villagers. "They (BSF) looted some of the houses and tried to forcibly take away a few villagers."

The villagers countered the BSF attack and injured some of them, he suspects.

Quamruzzaman and Mrityunjoy Kumar, CO of the BSF, sat in a short flag meeting at around 9:15pm and agreed to a ceasefire, said the BDR CO.

He added that he and his counterpart visited the spot and found one BSF member hurt. The BSF, however, claimed one of their men was missing.