Panchagarh stone quarry worker shot dead in BSF firing

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) today shot dead a Bangladeshi stone-lifting worker at Baguladangi village along the border in Panchagarh's Tetulia upazila.

The deceased was identified as Palash Hossain, 35, son of Abdur Rahman of the same village, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent quoting BGB Panchagarh 18 Commanding Officer Lt Col Jobayed Hasan.

Locals said around 10 to 12 stone quarry workers were lifting stones from the Korotoa river in Bangladesh territory near the border between Pillar No 739/1-R and 739/2-R in the afternoon.

All of a sudden, a BSF patrol team of Greengoch BSF camp of 195 BSF Battalion opened fire on the workers without any provocation leaving Palash injured.

The other workers rescued and brought Palash to Panchagarh Sadar Hospital around 3:00pm with a bullet wound on his abdomen where he was provided primary treatment, said Medical Officer Rakib Ul Hasan.

He was later recommended to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

Palash succumbed to his injuries at RMCH at around 8:30pm, said Tentulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Sayed Chowdhury.

BGB Panchagarh CO Lt Col Jobayed Hasan told this correspondent over phone that protesting the incident, BGB sent a proposal to the BSF for holding a company-commander-level flag meeting.

However, BSF was yet to respond till the filing of this report at about 8:00pm.