Bangladeshi ‘shot dead by BSF’

A Bangladeshi man was shot dead allegedly by the Border Security Force (BSF) inside Indian territory adjacent to Laraighat border in Jhenidah's Maheshpur upazila yesterday.

The dead is Ariful Islam, 28, of the upazila's Shyamkur village, said locals.

A group of seven to eight Bangladeshis, including Arif, intruded into India to bring cattle to Bangladesh, said Lt Col Masud Parvez Rana, captain of 58th BGB battalion in Maheshpur.

The firing incident took place in India's Hanskhali border area around 5:30am, he further said quoting Arif's family members.

"Ariful died on the spot," the BGB official said, adding that the rest of the Bangladeshis managed to flee the scene.

BGB sent a message to India's Hanskhali Pakhiura BSF camp for holding a flag meeting but did not receive any response, Lt Col Masud said in the afternoon. 

Shyamkaru Union Parishad Chairman Jamirul Islam also confirmed the incident.