Members of the Indian Border Security Force killed a Bangladeshi cattle trader and injured two others early yesterday.
Deceased Mukul Hossain, 35, from Satkhira sadar went to India’s Dubli area along with his companions on Friday night. A BSF patrol team from Kholisha camp opened fire at them as they wanted to enter Bangladesh territory illegally in the early hours of yesterday.
Injured Mukul fell into a jute field while others fled the scene. They later recovered Mukul upon getting his phone call. He died while being taken back to Bangladesh, reports our Satkhira correspondent.
Chairman of sadar upazila’s Kushkhali union, Abu Raihan, said he had heard about the death of Mukul but could not say anything about the corpse.
Deputy Commander of BGB 38 Battalion Maj Mozammel said they were gathering details on the matter. He said they carry out awareness campaigns in the border area asking people not to go to India to bring cattle.
“We have nothing to do when they get killed for crossing the border illegally,” Maj Mozammel told reporters.
On June 6, BGB personnel recovered the body of a cattle trader from the Ichhamoti River who was allegedly tortured to death by the BSF men.
The deceased was Rubel Hossain, a resident of Haroddoha village of sadar upazila. He and his companion Kawser Ali were caught by the BSF personnel while returning to Bangladesh.
Ashadul, another companion who managed to flee, alleged that the BSF members had tortured Rubel to death and threw him in the river.
Meanwhile, two Bangladeshi cattle traders from Moheshpur of Jhenidah were shot and wounded by the BSF members early yesterday. They are Abdur Rashid and Tariqul of Anantapur village of the upazila, reports UNB.
A patrol team of BSF’s Fatehpur camp opened fire on the cattle traders when they were returning home, leaving duo bullet injured. Family sources said Tariqul managed to flee but the BSF men had caught Rashid. He is undergoing treatment at a hospital in India.
Rostom Ali, company commander BGB Kushumpur, said: “The incident occurred in Indian territory. We have sent a letter to the BSF for a flag meeting but are yet to get any response.”
At least 20 people were killed while 42 abducted and 29 injured in BSF attacks between January and May this year, according to rights body Ain O Salish Kendra, prepared based on reported news reports.
Early Thursday, another Bangladeshi young man was shot to death by the BSF members on Lohakuchi border of Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat. The deceased was Abu Sayem Hossain Jammu,35, a resident of Talukdulali village of the upazila.
BGB and local sources said a team of BSF troops from West Chamta camp in Cooch Behar opened fire on a group of cattle traders, including Sayem.
On June 25, a cattle trader was killed while another injured when members of the Indian BSF fired rubber bullets and hurled hand bombs at them near Porsha border in Naogaon.
Zahurul Islam, 32, and Bokul Hossain, 30, were injured in the sudden attack and brought back to Bangladesh by the other traders. Zahurul died on his way to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
The Indian BSF has been killing Bangladesh nationals every now and then along the border – be it a farmer working at his field or traders bringing cattle from India. They are also accused of kidnapping, torturing and attacking bordering villages in the name of chasing criminals.
However, reports say many wanted Bangladeshi criminals, militants, gold and drug smugglers have crossed the border without any hindrance.
Since 2010, the Indian authorities have been saying that they would use non-lethal weapons but it has never been materialised. Despite making such pledges, the BSF highups defend shooting at Bangladeshi people by saying that they open fire for self-defence only.
