A Bangladeshi man, Anwar Hossain, 40, was fatally shot by India’s Border Security Force (BSF)at the Harivasa Union’s Mominpara border in Panchagarh Sadar Upazila.
The incident occurred near the main pillar 751 and sub-pillars 8-9 of the border with India’s Shingpara early on Friday (6 December).
Anwar, a resident of Debnagar Union in Tetulia Upazila, Panchagarh, was the son of Rafiqul Islam from the Amjuani area.
According to sources from the 56th Battalion of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Nilphamari, Anwar, along with several others, entered India on Thursday night to bring back cattle. As they were returning at dawn, members of the BSF’s 93rd Battalion stationed at the Chanakiya Camp pursued them.
BSF claimed that the group attacked them with machetes and bamboo sticks, prompting them to fire in self-defence. Anwar was killed at the scene, and his body was taken by the BSF. Additionally, two smuggled cattle were seized.
Hearing the gunfire, personnel from the Ghagra BGB Camp fired eight blank rounds to deter the smugglers.
Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Md Badruddoza, the commander of the Nilphamari 56th BGB Battalion, stated that efforts were underway to recover the body through a flag meeting and to lodge a strong protest against the incident. Following the clash, the BGB seized a smuggled cow from the Bangladeshi side of the border.
The incident has once again highlighted the tense situation along the Bangladesh-India border, with allegations of excessive force by the BSF raising concerns.
