A 41-year-old Bangladeshi man was shot dead early Wednesday by members of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Dhabolguri border in the Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat. The deceased has been identified as Ali Hossain, a resident of Dhabolguri Purbo Paniartari village in the upazila.

According to Lt Col Syed Fazle Munim, commanding officer of the 61 BGB Teesta Battalion, the incident occurred near sub-pillar No 5 of main border pillar No 874, about 500 yards inside Indian territory, around 3:00am. Seven to eight Bangladeshis reportedly crossed the zero-line late Tuesday night and attempted to cut a section of the barbed-wire fence.

Lt Col Fazle Munim said that BSF personnel from the Satgram camp of India’s 156 Battalion first fired blank rounds to disperse the group. When the men failed to retreat, the BSF opened live fire, fatally wounding Ali Hossain. The other members of the group managed to escape.

“The injured Bangladeshi was taken to a hospital by the BSF, where doctors declared him dead. We have been in touch with BSF authorities and preparations are underway to return the body through a flag meeting at the border,” the BGB official added.

According to The Daily Star, the body of Ali Hossain is currently held at an Indian hospital, and authorities from both sides are coordinating to bring it back to Bangladesh.

BOB Post