Bangladeshi youth killed in BSF firing along Panchagarh border

A suspected Bangladeshi cattle lifter was gunned down allegedly by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the Panchagarh border on Friday, said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The fresh incident takes place at a time when tension has heightened between the neighbouring countries over the attack on the Bangladesh mission in Tripura’s Agartala.

The deceased was Anwar Hossain, son of Rafiqul Islam of the Debangarh area in Tetulia upazila of the district.

Some villagers, including Anwar, allegedly trespassed on India through Haribhasa union early Friday, said Lt Col Sheikh Mohammad Badruddoza, commandant of the BGB 56 Battalion in Nilphamari, who visited the spot and talked to the media.  The district, Panchagarh, falls under the battalion.

The BSF claimed that when the suspected smugglers tried to attack them with weapons, forcing them to retaliate by firing. Anwar died on the spot.

Later, the BSF took away his body, said the BGB official who talked to his BSF counterpart.

Hearing the sound of firing from the border, the BGB members also fired blank shots, he said.

A flag meeting will be called to bring back the body, the BGB official said, adding that they will formally protest the incident.