Two Bangladeshi youths were shot dead when the Indian Border Security Force opened fire on them along Bangladesh-India border in Satkhir and Chuadanga on early Sunday.
The victims are Md Hasanur Rahman, 25, son of Md Haidar Ali of Kushkhali village unbder Sadar upazila in Satkhira and Muntaj Hossain alias Jahangir, 32, from Boldiay School Para under Damurhuda upazila in Chuadanga district.
Satkhira incident took place near Khaitala border in Satkhira.
Hasanur’s father Haidar Ali said that his son left home at about 10:00pm on Saturday and never came back.
He said that an unidentified caller informed him at about 5:00am on Sunday that BSF members shot his son at zero line of Khaitala border and locals rescued him and rushed him to Satkhira Sadar Hospital from where he was referred to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
He said that his son died on the way to Khulna and doctors of a private hospital in Khulna declared him dead on arrival.
Satkhira Sadar Hospital’s emergency department on-duty doctor Ashraful Islam said that the victim received a bullet in the right side of his belly.
Satkhira 33 Border Guard Battalion commander lieutenant colonel Al Mahmud said that their Indian counterpart had denied the allegation.
He said that they called the BSF to sit for a flag meeting at the zero line of Kaliani border.
The BGB official said that the victim was involved in bringing Indian goods illegally.
United News of Bangladesh, quoting BGB officials, reported that the BSF shot and killed Muntaj Hossain at Boldiya border under Damurhuda upazila at about 5:00am on Sunday.
Lt Col Shah Mohammad Istiaq, director of BGB-6 battalion, said that the Indian BSF opened fire targeting the Bangladeshi youth at about 5:00am am when Muntaj went to India to bring cattle through border opposite the No 82 main pillar, leaving him dead on the spot.
He said that the body was still on the Indian side of the border separated by barbed wire fence.
At least 1,236 Bangladeshis were killed and 1,145 injured in the shooting by the Indian border force between 2000 and 2020, according to Odhikar, a rights organisation.
According to Ain o Salish Kendra, the BSF killed at least 18 Bangladeshis along the border with India last year.
With the latest killings, at least 11 Bangladeshis were killed by the Indian BSF in 2022.
