‘Appeal in Felani case after final verdict’

Foreign minister Dipu Moni has said Bangladesh will appeal if justice in the Felani murder case was not meted out after a final verdict in an Indian court.

“We’ll definitely appeal,” she has said, adding that the government has sought details of the final trial process of the much-talked about border killing that took place more than two years ago.

Replying a question at a press briefing on Thursday, Moni termed the killing ‘tragic’ and said the Bangladesh government had long been demanding justice over the murder.

Felani was shot dead by BSF personnel on Jan 7, 2011, while she was trying to cross the barbed-wire fencing near Choudhuryhat.

The killing had evoked huge outrage in both Bangladesh and India after her body was seen hanging from the fence.

A special BSF court, however, acquitted the troop accused of the murder. The judgment, delivered on September 6, also drew lot of criticism.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka, however, urged all to wait for the final outcome of the Felani trial saying “this is only the first step” and the judgment would be reviewed by a competent authority.

The foreign minister said the government did not make any comment after the special court’s verdict since it was not final.

Public Prosecutor of the Kurigram district judge’s court SM Abraham Lincoln, who was helping Felani’s family, however had said they would not be able to appeal against the judgment as India filed the case against the BSF soldier.

On this, the foreign minister said government has sought details of the final process of the trail.

“But definitely it will be appealed (if justice is denied),” she said.