Bangladeshi girl killed by BSF along Moulvibazar border

A Bangladeshi teenage girl was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Kulaura border in Moulvibazar on Sunday night.

The incident occurred on the Lalarchak border of Sharifpur Union under the upazila.

The victim was identified as Swarna Das, 16, daughter of Parendra Das from Kalnigar village in Juri upazila. She was an eighth grader at Nirod Bihari High School.

Binoy Bhuson Roy, officer-in-charge of Kulaura Police Station, said no official report had been filed yet, but they are working to verify the incident.

Swarna's father Parendra Das said that his eldest son has been living in Tripura, India for a long time. To see him, Swarna and her mother tried to cross the Lalarchak border to India illegally with the help of two local brokers on Sunday (Sept 1) night. When they reached the Indian barbed wire fence around 9 pm, the BSF opened fire on them. Swarna died on the spot but luckily Swarna's mother survived.

He also said that a team of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) came to the house on Monday night and reported the news. Swarna's body was taken by BSF, he added.

When asked about the handover of the Bangladeshi girl's body, OC Binoy Bhuson Roy said that the matter is under legal procedure. It depends on the meeting between the two countries and the prevailing decision.