BSF guns down Bangladeshi on Victory Day

A Bangladeshi youth has been shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Srirampur union border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat.

The deceased was identified as Zahidul Islam, 22, a resident of Madhya Islampur village in Srirampur union.

The incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday when a group of Bangladeshi cattle smugglers crossed the border with the help of another group of Indian cattle traders. 

Jahidul was shot dead on the spot by BSF. One Indian and one Bangladeshi were also injured at the time. 

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According to border sources and BGB, a group of 7/8 Bangladeshis crossed the border to bring cattle from India through main pillar no 752 and sub-pillar no 5 of Srirampur union border.

When they reached the border between Kaushik Camp and Ratanpur Camp of BSF, the members of the patrol team of Ratanpur Camp of 140 Raninagar BSF Battalion of India opened fire at them. 

The body of the slain Bangladeshi remained lying on the Indian side of the border till noon. India’s Mekhliganj police sent the body for an autopsy at 1pm.

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Shamshernagar BGB Company Commander Subedar Azharul confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune and said a flag meeting was held between the BGB and BSF at the border around 2pm. The body would be returned after autopsy.

Zahidul is the second Bangladeshi in a week to die at the hands of BSF in the same region.

Earlier on December 10, a young man named Abu Taleb, 32, was seriously injured in a BSF shooting at the border of the same union. 

He died two days later while undergoing treatment in Rangpur. 

Rangpur 71 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Colonel Mozammel Haque could not be reached for comment.