The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down a Bangladeshi man near the Khaitala border in Satkhira Sadar early Sunday.
Although there has been no official acknowledgement from the Indian side, a Border Guard Bangladesh commander confirmed the matter.
The incident occurred around 4 am in the Koijuri area on the Indian side of the border. The victim has been named as Hasanur Rahman, 25, of Kushkhali village.
Hasanur's father Haider Ali said, "My son crossed into India a few days ago to visit a relative because he did not have a passport. While he was returning home early Sunday in the same way around, alongside a few other companions, a BSF patrol from India's Koijuri Camp opened fire on them. Hasanur was critically injured in the shooting."
Later, Hasanur's companions managed to drag him to Bangladesh territory and admitted him to Satkhira Sadar Hospital around 6am. As his condition worsened, he wasreferred to Khulna Surgical Hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival at 7am, according to the father.
Satkhira-33 BGB commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Al Mahmud said, "When BSF was asked about Hasanur's death, they denied the firing. We have invited them for a flag meeting. Once we have the meeting, we will learn more about the death."
Although it was learnt that there has been no word back from BSF on when or where the meeting might take place.
At about the same time in a different part of the country, BSF shot and killed Muntaj Hossain alias Jahangir, 32, at the Boldiya border in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga.
The killing was confirmed by a BGB official, who said Muntaj wasa cattle trader - hence in BSF's eyes, a cattle smuggler. His body still remains across the border on Indian territory.
It is the first time this year that two Bangladeshis have been killed by BSF in a single day.Ain o Salish Kendra data till September showed that the BSF had killed 18 Bangladeshis till the start of last month in 2022.
The declared aspiration of both countries to bring the contentious issue of border killings i.e. Bangladeshis getting killed by the Indian border force along the over 4096-km international border they share 'down to zero', remains a pipe dream.
