Family members of Felani want speedy trial in border murder case

Family members of Felani Khatun, the 15-year-old girl, killed by India's BSF in 2011, have asked the government to ensure a speedy end to the trial.

Her family members made this plea on Saturday while participating at a memorial event organised by the Nagarik Parishad in Dhaka to mark the 6th anniversary of her death at the Shishu Parishad auditorium in capital.

On Jan 7, 2011, 15-year-old Felani was shot dead by India's BSF while she, along with her father, was trying to enter Bangladesh at the Kurhigram's Anantapur border in Fulbarhi.

The image of her body hanging from the barbed-wire fence became a symbol of 'BSF brutality' on borders and generated international outrage.

Buckling under pressure from human rights organisations and the Bangladesh government, arrangements were made to deliver justice.

But on Sep 6, 2013, the BSF court absolved Constable Amiya Ghosh of all charges including murder.

Faced with objection from Felani's family and public outcry at home and abroad, the BSF Director General ordered a new hearing.

But on Sep 22, 2104, the court upheld its previous verdict and yet again acquitted constable Ghosh of the charges.

The National Human Rights Commission of India last year asked the Government of India to provide an ex gratia payment of rupees 500,000 to Felani's family.

On Saturday, Felani's mother, Jahanara Begum and father Nurul Islam arrived at the capital Dhaka on the invitation of the Nagarik Parishad to participate in the memorial event.

The auditorium became a symbol of protest in grim silence as Jahanara broke into tears while speaking about her daughter.

Recounting what happened, Jahanara who along with her slain daughter Felani was then in India, said, "I had sent Felani over to her father (in Bangladesh) to get her married. I was then in India on a family issue. I learnt about my daughter's death three days after the incident. I had told her father; I want my daughter back alive."

"I don't want that any more bullets are fired on the border. (I wish) that no mother loses her daughter to bullets. So I request the government to take the initiative in ensuring a speedy trial to provide Felani with justice," she said alleging that no one from the district administration of Kurhigram bothers to care about them anymore.

Felani's father said, "I watched Felani take the bullets right in front of my eyes. After that, her body lay hanging from the barbed wire at the border for four days. If a daughter dies such a death in front of her father's eyes, one can imagine what his life will be like."

"At that time Home Minister Sahara Khatun had come to my house and had said that she would take the responsibility of my family. But she did not enquire about us for once in these six years. It has become difficult for me to sustain along with my children," he said.

If his daughter had received justice, no one else would have to die such a death, he opined.

Speaking at the event, Nagarik Parishad Convenor Md Shamsuddin demanded that Jan 7 be declared as Felani Day. He also raised a couple of other demands on behalf of his organisation.

He alleged that the Felani murder trial is being procrastinated.

Two cases on the issue are currently pending at the court in India, he said.

"One of them is a writ, and the other has been filed by human rights organisation of that country called MASUM (Manobadhikar Surakhsha Mancha). They have demanded re-investigation of the Felani murder case which has led to the delay in conclusion of the case," he said.

He said that if coordination of the two ongoing cases could be done, the conclusion could be hastened.

Among others, Nagarik Parishad Women Affairs Secretary Mushtari Begum, Jago Bangladesh Workers' Federation President Bahraini Sultana, Human Rights activist Monjur Hossain Isa, Ganatantrik League President Harunur Rashid, attended the programme.