BSF shooting injures Bangladeshi youth, BGB fires back

A farmer sustained serious injuries after India’s Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire at him along the border in Jamalpur village, Daulatpur upazila, Kushtia on Saturday morning.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) returned fire to ensure the security of Bangladeshis living along the border, and out of self-defence, BGB said in a press release.

Tensions have escalated in the border area, where BGB has beefed up surveillance and patrols by several folds, it added in the press release.

The injured youth has been identified as Sajul Hossain, son of Sabaj Hossain of Jamalpur village.

According to locals and BGB sources, Sajul went to cut grass in an area near the “no man’s land,” close to the Jamalpur Border Outpost (BOP) of BGB. BSF personnel spotted him and shot him with pellet bullets around 9:30am.

Bullets riddled Sajul’s body from his ankle up to the waist. He was initially rushed to the Daulatpur Health Complex, and then shifted to the Kushtia General Hospital.

Soon after the shooting incident, BGB returned fire across the border and boosted border monitoring.