Two Bangladeshi cattle traders were shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Dear Manik Char border in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi early today.

The deceased -- Abu, 29 and Shamir, 31, -- were the residents of Dear Manik Char area, reports our Rajshahi correspondent.

Sanaullah, chairman of Char Asharia Doho Union Parishad, told our correspondent that BSF troops opened fire when a group of cattle traders were going to India through the border around 3:00am.   

Abu and Shamir were hit by bullets and died on the spot, he said.

Confirming the incident, Lt Col Shamim Masud Al Iftekhar, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh battalion-1 of Rajshahi, said they called BSF for a flag meeting today as the Indian border guards took away the bodies.