Felani's father to testify in her retrial

Felani Khatun's father will go to India to testify in the retrial of his daughter's killing, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has said.

He will be accompanied by BGB-45 Battalion Commanding Officer Lt Col Mofazzal Hossain Akanda and Kurigram Public Prosecutor Abraham Lincoln on Sunday.

The retrial started on Sept 22 at the General Security Force Court set up at Cooch Behar's BSF sector headquarters in India.

Indian border guards shot dead Felani on Jan 7, 2011 while she was trying to cross barbed-wire fencing near Choudhury haat.

Images of her body hanging on the border fence triggered mass outrage in both Bangladesh and India.

A BSF court acquitted constable Amiya Ghosh, the only accused in the killing, on Sept 6 last year due to 'inconclusive and insufficient' evidence.

However, the Indian border guards admitted use of "excessive force" in the case and said it was difficult to justify the shooting.

Felani's father Nur Islam on Sept 12 appealed to the Indian government through its High Commission in Dhaka for a retrial.

The BSF later agreed for the retrial.

BGB official Akanda said Felani's father Islam's testimony would be recorded on Monday.

Lawyer Lincoln said the BSF had informed them to go to India to testify on Friday.

Felani's father said, "I got the summons after a long time. They staged a farce in the name of justice. I hope, this time justice will be served."