Lalmonirhat Border: Bangladeshi shot dead by BSF

A Bangladeshi cattle trader was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force along Doikhowa border in Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila in the early hours of yesterday.

BSF took away the body into the Indian territory for a post-mortem after the incident took place near pillar-905 at Gotamari union around 4:30am, said BGB officials.

The Indian force also allegedly picked up a Bangladeshi farmer, Saber Ali, 62, son of late Kandura Miah at Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, from his maize field around 9:00am yesterday. Two hours later, BSF of Gidaldah camp returned the farmer at a flag meeting between BSF and BGB at Falimari no-man's land area.

The deceased Bangladeshi cattle trader was identified as Shafiqul Islam, 30, son of Jaynal Abedin of Amjhol village of Doikhowa border area.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) of Doikhowa camp official sources said, a patrolling BSF team of 100 BSF Battalion's Paglimari camp opened fire on five Bangladeshi cattle traders as they were entering Indian territory to bring back Indian cattle. Shafiqul Islam died on the spot while others managed to flee, BGB said.

“The Bangladeshi's body remained on the spot, where he was hit, till around 10:00am yesterday. Later BSF took the body for a post-mortem,” border area Gotamari's Union Parishad UP Chairman Abul Kashem said.

Confirming these two incidents, Commanding Officer (CO) of Lalmonirhat 15 BGB Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Golam Morshed said, BSF returned the Bangladeshi farmer after a flag meeting at Mogholhat border and that BSF would hand over the deceased cattle trader's body after post-mortem in India.

“We sent a letter yesterday noon protesting the killing of the Bangladeshi citizen and seeking the return of his body to BSF,” he said.