Former member of defunct BDR found dead along India border

The bloodied body of a Bangladeshi man, identified as Ongthepru Marma, 66, was recovered on Saturday morning from the Sabroom area of India's Tripura state, across the border from Ramgarh in Khagrachhari.

Marma was a member of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), present-day Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and resigned from the force in 1986. He was a returnee refugee from India, and had settled in Fenirkul area of Ramgarh, family sources said.

According to locals and family members, Marma left home around 2pm on Friday to collect grass for cattle. When he failed to return by 9:30pm, his family began searching for him. His body was found the following morning with injuries to his forehead, the bridge of his nose and the back of his head.

His son, Thoe Angya Marma, said the family searched several places but could not find him. They informed a local BGB outpost around 10pm, following which the border force also began searching.

At around 8:30am on Saturday, family members found his sack of grass on the bank of the Feni River near the border in Fenirkul. After searching the area, they found his body submerged in water on the Indian side of the river. They recovered it and brought it back to Bangladesh.

Police took the body to the police station after preparing an inquest report.

Shamsul Haque, assistant director of BGB's Ramgarh 43 Battalion, said the force informed India's Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday night after receiving news of Marma's disappearance and sought its assistance in locating him.

Ramgarh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Nazir Alam said Marma had sharp-weapon injuries to his forehead, the bridge of his nose and the back of his head. The cause of death would be confirmed after an autopsy, he said, adding that the body would be sent to Khagrachhari District Sadar Hospital for examination.

Police were taking the necessary legal steps in connection with the incident, he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Ahsan Ul Islam, commanding officer of BGB's Ramgarh 43 Battalion, said the force would take action in accordance with border laws.