A five-member probe committee, formed by the Home Ministry, has taken the testimonies of victims of the clash between villagers and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) in Thakurgaon.
The probe body visited the Bahrampur village, in the Haripur upazila, and held a meeting with villagers; receiving testimonies from witnesses at the Thakurgaon Circuit House on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, during the session among the injured: Jaigun, Toimur Rahman, Sadequl Islam, Anarul, Rubel and Mithun have claimed that no financial assistance has been provided for their treatment so far and demanded punishment for the guilty personnel.
While speaking on the matter, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Nur Kutubul Alam said that as the investigation is still ongoing, nothing can be said if financial assistance will be provided or not until the investigation is completed.
The probe committee consists of five top government officials: Public Security Division Joint Secretary (Border) Md Mohsin Chowdhury, Deputy Secretary Zakir Hossain, the BGB director general's representative Lieutenant Col Morshed, National Human Rights Commission member and former senior district judge Nurun Nahar Osmani, and another member, Nazrul Islam.
On February 12, three people, including a Secondary School Certificate examinee, were killed— and at least 30 others injured—after BGB members opened fire during what the paramilitary force claimed was a clash with cattle smugglers.
Earlier on February 14, BGB filed two cases with Haripur police (Thakurgaon) against more than 250 villagers over the clash.
On February 24, a Thakurgaon court took into cognizance the complaints filed by the families of three victims with the Magistrate’s Court.
