Man dies as BSF enters Bangladesh, opens fire

A man has died of the bullet wound he suffered when the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire after entering Bangladesh territory along the Tahirpur border in Sunamganj on Friday.

Delwar Hossain, 28, a resident of Burungachhara in Tahirpur, breathed his last on Saturday afternoon at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, said Md Mahbubur Rahman, director and commanding officer (CO) of Sunamganj BGB Battalion.

Talking to The Daily Star, locals said a group of people from Burungachhara village were lifting stones illegally from the bordering Barochhara river area near Tekerghat BOP around 2:00pm on Friday.

While lifting stones, a woman named Hanufa Begum crossed into India and BSF soldiers caught her and beat her up. On information, some locals rushed to the spot and started hurling stones at the Indian border guards.

At one point, BSF men chased the locals and entered Bangladesh territory, and opened fire. This was when Delwar sustained a bullet wound.

BGB CO Mahbubur said Delwar was first taken to a local hospital and then to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where he passed away.

BSF soldiers shot three rounds and Delwar was hit with a bullet in his stomach, said a BGB press release sent by Mahbubur.

The BGB later on Saturday held a commander-level flag meeting with BSF and discussed the matter. The process is underway to send a formal protest letter to the BSF-193 Battalion.

When the BGB in the meeting demanded stern action against the trespassers, the BSF assured it of taking proper steps after investigating the matter, Mahbub said.

Later in the day, the BGB held an awareness meeting with the locals to stop the illegal lifting of stone and coal in the bordering areas.

The border guards have increased patrol along the bordering areas to increase vigilance and the tension along the border is now pacified.