Bangladeshi killed allegedly in BSF firing

With marks of bullet wounds, the body of a Bangladeshi man was seen lying on the Indian side of the border near Juri upazila of Moulvibazar yesterday, said locals.

The locals identified the deceased as Bappa Miya, 30, a cattle trader, who lived in a village of the district's Fultala union. They suspect that he was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).

Talking to this correspondent, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members, however, said they were yet to confirm whether the man was a Bangladeshi and how he died.

Subedar Delwar Hossain, commander of BGB-52 Battalion's Fultala camp, said communications between the two border forces were underway in this regard.  

Several locals said Bappa left his house on Friday evening. Around 4:00am yesterday,  a few shots of fire were heard in the border area. His body was seen along the zero line on the Indian side of the border near East Batuli area around 7:00am.

Locals then informed the matter to a Fultala Union Parishad member named Md Moinuddin. 

Moinuddin said it appeared that BSF personnel shot Bappa and left his body there. He said he informed the police and the BGB about the incident.

Juri Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sanjay Chakraborty said locals have alleged that the Bangladeshi man was killed in BSF firing. The BGB would be able to give further details, he said.

Contacted, Lt Col Shah Alam Siddiqui, commander of the BGB 52 Battalion, said they were trying to hold a flag meeting with their Indian counterpart.

"Since the incident took place on the other side of the border, it is not possible to say anything until the flag meeting," he said.