Youth shot dead as BGB opens fire during Sylhet anti-smuggling raid

The BGB claims one of its members was hurt when smugglers attacked their patrol team during the operation

Police in Sylhet have confirmed the death of a young man after the Border Guard Bangladesh opened fire during an anti-smuggling operation along the Jaintapur border.

The BGB claimed one of its members was injured after smugglers attacked their patrol team, prompting them to fire blank shots.

The incident occurred around 11:30am on Wednesday on the Chatul-Lal Khal road at the Bhattikhala border of Charikata Union, said Jaintapur Police chief Abul Bashar Mohammad Badruzzaman.

The victim was identified as Almas Uddin, 30, son of Sharif Uddin from Noakhel Purbo village under Charikata Union.

Citing BGB, Badruzzaman said: “The shooting occurred as the BGB chased smugglers. The youth was crossing the road when he was hit by a bullet. I’m on my way to the spot; details will follow.”

He said an inquest was underway in the presence of the Upazila administrator (UNO) before the body would be sent to MAG Osmani Hospital for postmortem.

In a statement signed at 5pm by Lt Col Zubair Anwar, commander of BGB Battalion-19, the force said a patrol team from the Suraighat BOP conducted an anti-smuggling raid at Bhattikhala around 10am.

The team seized a pickup truck carrying illegal goods when a group of men armed with local weapons, machetes, and sticks attacked them and tried to snatch the goods.

“To protect themselves, BGB members fired four to five blank shots to control the situation,” the statement said, adding that one member was injured and receiving hospital care.

Lt Col Zubair said legal action over the incident was under way.