BSF shoots and kills Bangladeshi national at Moulvibazar border

The incident occurs at the Duttagram border area in Kulaura Upazila

A 20-year-old Bangladeshi national has been shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in Moulvibazar’s Kaulaura Upazila.

The incident occurred around 7:45pm in the Duttagram area near the Sharifpur border in the Upazila, according to Lt Col Sarkar Asif Mahmud, commander of the 46 BGB Sreemangal Battalion.

The deceased has been identified as Md Mujib Ali, a local resident.

The BGB said a group of six to seven Bangladeshi “smugglers” entered Lakhairchar in India, approximately 500 yards from the border pillar 1852/5-S, with the help of Indian traffickers.

Members of the 199th Battalion BSF Lathiapura camp stopped the “smugglers” at the time. Angered by this, the Bangladeshi smugglers tried to attack the BSF personnel with makeshift weapons.

The BSF members fired two or three shots at the smugglers in self-defence. Mujib Ali was shot and died on the spot. The BGB said the other “smugglers” escaped and went into hiding.

It added, “It is known that the victim was previously involved in transporting smuggled goods.”

Sharifpur union council member Md Harun Or Rashid said he had heard of two more people being shot and injured in the incident.

He, however, failed to identify them.

Kulaura Police Inspector (investigation) Md Habibur Rahman said a team of police was heading to the scene.

Lt Col Sarkar said, “After rain started in the evening, their patrol members heard the sound of a few gunshots.

“Later, when the BSF was contacted about the matter, they informed us about the incident. Discussions with the BSF are under way.”