BSF returns bodies of two Bangladeshis after 18 hours

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has returned the bodies of two Bangladeshis 18 hours after shooting and killing them along the border in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) received the bodies at a flag meeting held at the Khirnal border in Kasba upazila on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Md Mursalin, 20, son of Hebju Mia of Dhajangar village, and Nabir Hossain, son of Mokorom Ali of Madhupur village.

They were killed in BSF firing in the border area late Friday night. Reports also said several others were injured in the incident.

According to a press release issued by the Border Guard Bangladesh, around 15 Bangladeshis entered Indian territory with the assistance of Indian smugglers, prompting BSF personnel to open fire.

Locals and Mursalin’s family said, BSF opened fire when a group of people gathered in the border area, leading to the death of two Bangladeshis. The locals could not specify which side of the border the deceased were in, when BSF shot at them.

Earlier on Saturday, BGB issued a press release, saying some Bangladeshis went inside India with support from some Indian smugglers. While the Bangladeshi group was returning to Bangladeshi area with smuggled goods, BSF spotted and intercepted them. The Bangladeshi side “tried to hit back, leading to a scuffle.”

At one point, the BSF personnel shot two rounds of pellets, leading to the death of two.

During the handover of the bodies, the Bangladeshi side was led by Lieutenant Colonel SM Shariful Islam, commanding officer of BGB Battalion (Sultanpur), and Kasba Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazneen Sultana.

The Indian side was represented by Lieutenant Colonel Ajit Kumar Singh, commanding officer of the BSF’s 49 Battalion, along with several officers from Bishalgarh Police Station.

The BGB said a protest note had been issued to the BSF over the incident and that the border situation was normal.