2 bodies recovered from Padma River near Masudpur border in Chapainawabganj

Police recovered the bodies of two Bangladeshis from Padma River near Masudpur Border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj yesterday (2 August) afternoon. 

The dead bodies were withdrawn from the river in the presence of Border Guard Bangladesh's (BGB) personnel from Tarapur area in Shibganj Upazila. Neither the BGB nor the police could identify the cause of the death.

The deceased were identified as Shafiqul Islam, 45, son of Sirajul Islam, and Selim, 35, son of late Mortuza− both residents of Tarapur village in Manaksha union under Shibganj upazila.

Locals claimed they were brutally tortured and killed by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at the Indian border.

Lieutenant Colonel Fahad Mahmud Rinku, commander of Border Guard Bangladesh's (BGB) 53rd Battalion, and Golam Kibria, officer in-charge of Shibganj Police Station, confirmed that the bodies were found approximately 2.5 km inside Bangladesh territory from border pillar 4/2-S.

"BGB personnel saw the body of Shafiqul floating in the river near the border area. Police recovered the bodies from the site at noon. After some time, they recovered the body of Selim from the same area in the afternoon. But the cause of the death is still unknown", said Lieutenant Colonel Fahad Mahmud Rinku.

Locals also alleged, " Shafiqul Islam was involved with smuggling at the border alongside catching fish at the Padma. On Wednesday night, he and Selim Reza crossed the Indian border through the Padma River. After that, they were missing."

Md Samir Uddin, member of the Monkosha Union Parishad Ward-8, said, Shafiqul had been tortured brutally to death. Locals witnessed some blisters on some parts of his body. They suspected they were acid burns. Besides, some of his teeth were broken.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) were informed about the death by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). They responded they do not know about the incident.