College student, another shot dead in BSF firing along Brahmanbaria border
According to the BGB, as the group was returning with smuggled goods, they were intercepted by a patrol team from the Pathariadwar camp of the BSF's 49th Battalion
Two Bangladeshi nationals were shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the Kasba border in Brahmanbaria last night (8 May).
The incident took place at around 11:15pm near the Dhajanagar border, reportedly within Indian territory.
One of the deceased has been identified as Md Morsalin, 22, son of Hebju Mia from the Dhajanagar Batanbari area in Gopinathpur union of the upazila. He was a student at the local Shah Alam Degree College.
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The identity of the other victim could not be immediately confirmed, although it was reported that he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in India.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) stated that the individuals were allegedly involved in smuggling.
Lieutenant Colonel SM Shariful Islam, commanding officer of the BGB's 60th Battalion, said a group of approximately 15 Bangladeshi nationals crossed into Indian territory with the assistance of Indian associates for smuggling purposes.
He added that the BGB is in contact with the BSF commandant to repatriate the bodies.
"We are in the process of sending a protest note to BSF and holding a flag meeting regarding the incident," he said.
Meanwhile, a PTI report from Agartala said the bodies were handed over to their relatives through Kamalasagar border outpost in the presence of BSF and BGB officials.
It said that during routine patrolling, BSF officials spotted a group of 15 Bangladeshi persons allegedly smuggling fishlings at Pathariadwar, an Indian village, on Friday night.
"On being challenged, the smugglers started pelting stones at BSF troops and in self-defence, the BSF personnel opened fire from Pump Action Guns resulting in two suspected persons falling on the ground," said Ujjal Choudhury, officer in charge (OC) of Madhupur police station.
He said the BSF found the two persons with gunshot injuries and took them to the nearby health facility where they succumbed to their injuries.
"After the post-mortem, the bodies of the suspected smugglers were handed over to their relatives in the presence of BSF and BGB officials following all bilateral protocol at a location under Kamalasgar border outpost (BOP). No complaint was lodged by the BGB authority over the incident," he said.
According to the BGB, as the group was returning with smuggled goods, they were intercepted by a patrol team from the Pathariadwar camp of the BSF's 49th Battalion.
A scuffle reportedly broke out when the group confronted the BSF personnel, leading the border guards to open fire.
Morsalin died on the spot, and his body was taken by the BSF. Another youth succumbed to his injuries later at an Indian hospital.
Morsalin's family claimed that a few local individuals called him out of his house late at night and took him to the border area, where he was later fatally shot.
