Staff Reporter:
In the face of growing protests over the recent killings of two Bangladeshis by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh does not want any such border killings.
“We want no such incident along the borders. On behalf of the government, the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) has protested the recent border killings,” he added.
He was addressing a press briefing on contemporary affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Thursday.
A Bangladeshi farmer was shot dead on the Nitpur border in Porsha upazila of Naogaon on Tuesday, and a teenager along the Durgapur border in Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat on Monday.
Their bodies were handed over to the BGB on Wednesday night, after two flag meetings between the BGB and the BSF on their respective borders.
Meanwhile, in the latest BSF firing, a youth was injured along Sonamasjid border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj yesterday.
The border killings of Bangladeshis by the BSF continue despite repeated calls to use non-lethal bullets.
Even in the 54th director general-level border conference between the BGB and the BSF on March 9, both sides agreed to bring down the killing of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals in the border areas to zero by taking effective steps, including enhancing joint patrolling.
Describing what led to the deaths, the minister said the first event took place at 10pm on Monday. Some Bangladeshis cut the barbed wire fence to illegally cross the border into India.
According to the BSF, Hasan Mahmud said, the Bangladeshis were larger inumber, and the BSF challenged them.
“The Bangladeshis then encircled the BSF. The Indian border security personnel then fired at them, injuring two Bangladeshis,” he said.
“One of the injured returned to Bangladesh, and the other was admitted to the hospital in India. He died there while under treatment.”
The foreign minister said another incident took place in Naogaon on Tuesday when the farmer was intruding on Indian territory.
Asked if the Foreign Ministry has issued any protest, Hasan Mahmud said that for many days, Bangladesh has been discussing the border issue with India.
“During my recent visit to India too, I have discussed the issue with due importance so that non-lethal weapons are used at the border,” he said.
“Now, many more non-lethal weapons are used than before. That’s why many get injured and then return to Bangladesh. Otherwise, the death toll could have been many more.”
Oliul Islam, son of Monirul Islam Moni of Baliadighi village of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, was injured in the latest BSF firing.
Lt Colonel Golam Kibria, commander of 59 BGB battalion, said: “When five to six smugglers along with Oliul entered India around 3am (yesterday), the BSF personnel opened fire on them and injured the teenager.”
His associates rescued him and took him to Chapainawabganj District Hospital. However, he did not receive treatment at the hospital and left it.
Kibria said that they would send a letter to the BSF protesting the border firing.
