‘Border killings much lower now compared to BNP’s rule’: Hasan Mahmud
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‘Border killings much lower now compared to BNP’s rule’: Hasan Mahmud

‘Border killings much lower now compared to BNP’s rule’: Hasan Mahmud
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud. File photo


BNP needs to compare the number of border killings during the party’s rule with the current figure, which is much lower according to Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.

Also, the government is trying to bring border killings down to zero, the  Information Minister said on Monday during a memorial meeting at Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) killed at least 1,185 Bangladeshis along the border between 2000 and 2019, according to Odhikar.

BNP on Monday called on the government to take steps to stop the killing of Bangladeshis by the BSF.

Also read: Take effective steps to stop border killings: BNP

“We want an end to border killings. We demand the government take immediate steps to stop the killings of Bangladeshis along the border,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The BNP secretary general added: “We’ve worn black badges today in protest against the indiscriminate killings of Bangladeshi nationals by the BSF.”

Last week, the BNP standing committee worked out countrywide protest programmes for Monday in protest against the killing of Bangladeshis by the BSF.

Also read: BNP slams killings along Bangladesh-India border

As part of the programmes, black flags were hoisted at the offices of the party across the country, including its Nayapaltan central office while BNP leaders and activists wore black badges or black dresses.

Fakhrul said, “The BSF has so far killed 1,510 Bangladeshis unfairly since 1972, and 439 of them were killed over the last 12 years.”

When Bangladeshi nationals are killed indiscriminately by neighbouring border guards along the border, it is a gross violation of the UN Charter of Human Rights, he observed.

Also read: BSF kills Bangladeshi along Chuadanga border

Mirza Fakhrul strongly criticised Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen for his recent comment that “India is not unilaterally responsible for the border killings.”

“A long interview of him (Momen) was published in the Daily Star today (Monday). After reading it, I have doubts as to whose foreign minister he is. Is he the foreign minister of Bangladesh or the foreign minister of India? Throughout the interview, he tried to defend India,” Fakhrul observed.

Also read: Bangladeshi youth killed in ‘BSF firing’ along Lalmonirhat border

He also questioned the justification of good relations with India only by meeting all the demands of that country while ignoring Bangladesh’s unresolved problems.

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BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir BSF border killing Indian Border Security Force Bangladesh-India border Information Minister BNP Secretary General Dr Hasan Mahmud Bangladeshis killed along border