A Bangladeshi fisherman was injured in firing by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the Polladanga border region in Chapainawabganj's Bholahat upazila. The injured is Jahangir Alam, 24, a resident of Kolonipara village of Gohalbari union. According to locals, Jahangir was fishing on a boat in the Mahananda River along the Polladanga border region at around 4:30 am on Saturday (February 17, 2024). At that time, BSF fired at him, and his right hand was shot. BSF detains 23 Bangladeshis along Chhagalnaiya border in Feni The locals then rescued him and rushed him to the Upazila health complex. Dr Delwar Hossain, duty medical officer of Bholahat Upazila Health Complex, said Jahangir was brought to the hospital with a bullet injury to his right elbow. Later, he was referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment. BSF regrets recent border killing, says Foreign Ministry Lt Col Golam Kibria, commanding officer of the BGB-59 battalion in Chapainawabganj, said members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire on Jahangir when he went near the Indian territory while he was fishing. He also said the BGB has sent a protest letter to the BSF in this regard. Body of Bangladeshi killed by BSF returned through Lalmonirhat border

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has officially regretted the recent border killing and expressed willingness to address the border issues through joint efforts. The BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will also work together to prevent any such incident in the future. BSF hands over body of BGB member after two days of killing Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Seheli Sabrin, made the remarks over the death of Sepoy Mohammad Raisuddin while replying to a question at the weekly briefing on Thursday. Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will visit India from February 7 to 9 as part of his first bilateral visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Dr S Jaishankar. BGB personnel shot in BSF firing dies in India Asked whether the Teesta water-sharing issue will be discussed in the meeting, the foreign ministry spokesperson said they expect the issue would be discussed. “In the upcoming visit, there will be a comprehensive discussion on various issues existing between Bangladesh and India. We are also expecting discussion on the Teesta water sharing agreement,” said the MoFA Spokesperson. BSF hands over bodies of 2 Bangladeshi youths it shot dead after 15 days She said it cannot be said at this moment whether the issue of China's proposed project on Teesta will be discussed. “If India wants to know anything from us in this regard, then we will consider the matter,” she added. Seheli Sabrin said issues of mutual interest including trade, connectivity and energy cooperation, people-to-people contacts, regional cooperation, connection will be discussed between the two sides to further strengthen Bangladesh-India relations. Asked whether he will have a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud recently said, “It is too early to say.” Jaishankar, earlier, invited his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Hasan Mahmud to visit New Delhi at a mutually convenient time. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma extended the invitation on behalf of the Indian External Affairs Minister. The Foreign Minister embarked on a multilateral tour to Uganda last month to attend the NAM Summit.  He is now visiting Brussels, Belgium to attend the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum.

The body of a Bangladeshi youth, who was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Aunghorpota border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat, was handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Sunday (January 28, 2024) night.   Patgram police station’s officer-in-charge (OC) Ferdous Wahid said Indian Border Security Force (BSF) handed over the body of Rabiul Islam to the BGB through Tin Bigha Corridor in the upazila after an autopsy in India on Sunday night. Read: BSF hands over body of BGB member after two days of killing Later, the body was handed over to the victim’s family, he said.   Earlier on Sunday afternoon, a flag-meeting between the border forces of the two countries was held when  the BGB condemned the killing. Rabiul, 33, son of Afzal Hossain of Dangarpara village under Dahagram union of the upazila, was gunned down by the BSF along Jashore’s Benapole border on Sunday, within a week of killing a BGB member by them. Read more: Another Bangladeshi shot dead by BSF along Lalmonirhat border

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday said killings in a number of points along the long Bangladesh-India border came down to zero level in recent years though problems remain in some points like Lalmonirhat. "We hope it will come down to zero level (in all points)," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion, acknowledging that border killing remains an irritant to Bangladesh-India relations. The state minister said there is no lack of willingness on both sides and Bangladesh raised the recent border issues with India through diplomatic channels yesterday (Tuesday). “There is no doubt that this is an irritant to our bilateral ties,” said the State Minister, adding that these incidents embarrassed them and undermine the growing relationship between the countries. The government has conveyed the recent killing of three Bangladeshis by the BSF in separate incidents to the Indian government through diplomatic channels. Read more: Border killings not expected: Shahriar Alam “We did never step back in raising issues in the interest of Bangladesh and its people,” said the State Minister. The State Minister said they see a deviation when it comes to Lalmonirhat and they are trying to understand it. “We will always remain vocal on the issue (border killing).” Even during the recent home minister-level meeting between the two countries in Delhi, both the ministers agreed to take all our efforts to bring down the border killing to zero level, and to stop the use of lethal weapons, he mentioned. “This is also our question: if really there was a situation, which required shooting then why were legs or hands not targeted?” the State Minister questioned. He said there are many achievements brought about by the two countries. Shahriar said there are disruptive forces driven by vested quarters but the two countries will work together to further deepen the relations. Read more: Cattle trader shot dead ‘by BSF’ along Lalmonirhat border He also talked about the role of the media in fighting the misinformation. Earlier, leaders of Bangladesh emphasized the importance of effective border management for ensuring a peaceful, stable and crime-free border. Both sides agreed that any death at the border is a matter of concern and directed the concerned border guarding forces to enhance people-oriented measures for ensuring border security and bring down such deaths of civilians to zero. Surjobarta Media and Communication hosted the seminar titled “Indo-Bangla Unique Friendship in Hasina-Modi Regimes: Role of Media” where bilateral issues including water sharing, border killing, trade and investment and role of media in strengthening the ties were discussed. President of South Asian Forum Against Religious Fundamentalism Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, acting Editor of Daily Samakal Mozammel Hossain Monju, Joint Editor of Daily Prothom Alo Sohrab Hassan, BSS Chief News Editor Samir Kanti Baarua, journalist Dr Ayanjit Sen, Chief Reporter of Daily Desh Rupantar Ummul Wara and Surjobarta Editor Sumi Khan also spoke at the seminar chaired by Prof Omer Selim Sher.

A Bangladeshi teenager has been shot dead and another injured, reportedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF), near the border in Sadar upazila of Dinajpur, authorities said today (September 8, 2022). The deceased was identified as Minar, 17, son of Jahangir Hossain of Askorpurup union. The incident occurred along Dainur border in the upazila last night (September 7, 2022), said Khanpur Union Parishad Chairman Abu Bakar Siddique. Read: BGB-BSF DG-level border conference begins in Dhaka Locals said they heard two to three rounds of gunshots around 10 pm. They found the bullet-hit body in the Haripur Teliapara area of the border this morning, said the UP chairman. The injured Bangladeshi and the body of the teenager are currently under BSF's custody, according to the locals. Read: Kurigram: BSF hands over bodies of two minor siblings Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF are expected to hold a flag meeting today over the incident, according to BSF. Yesterday, a BSF patrol team was performing duties in AOR of BOP Hariharpur 174 Bn RGJ. At about 9:05 pm, they observed about 9-10 Bangladeshi “smugglers” approaching the fence to receive some consignment, BSF added. Read BGB seizes drugs worth Tk 12 crore in Cox's Bazar The patrol team challenged them to stop but the “smugglers” tried to encircle one of the BSF jawans, it claimed. On observing the jawan being surrounded, his colleague threw a stun grenade to disperse the “smugglers” but they did not pay heed and closed in more tightly, BSF said. On seeing the aggression of the “smugglers”, the jawan fired one round of PAG in the air, but they kept closing in, it said. To deescalate the situation, the jawan again fired another round of PAG towards the “smugglers”. Despite several warnings, the “smugglers” apparently tried to capture the jawan and his weapon. Read BGB inaugurates fish fries release program on the occasion of National Fisheries Week-2022 The jawan fired in self defence when the “smugglers” tried to grab his rifle and the bullet directly hit the man who was holding his rifle. He died on the spot, according to BSF. On hearing the sound of firing and seeing their associate getting hit, the other “smugglers” escaped towards the Bangladesh side, it said.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said a good number of Rohingyas are coming to Bangladesh from India through fence areas in recent times which he sees as a matter of worry. “Unfortunately, many Rohingyas are coming to Bangladesh from India,” he told reporters, adding that those Rohingyas went to India in 2012. Also read: Three Rohingyas who fled Bhasan Char detained, sent back Momen said the Rohingyas who are coming after nine years have heard that they will have good food facilities in Cox’s Bazar. He said their relatives in Cox’s Bazar apparently conveyed to the Rohingyas in India that they are living happily in Cox’s Bazar with good food supply. “As a result, they (Rohingyas) are getting into Bangladesh in groups.” The Foreign Minister said the bad news is that they are coming through fence areas through brokers at both ends of the Bangladesh-India border. He said recently a total of 18 Rohingyas have been detained and they are coming in groups. “We have to engage more security forces to stop them.” Responding to a question, Momen said the government is not only seeking support from the Chinese government but also from other countries including the USA, Japan, Malaysia and Cambodia. Also read: Dhaka seeks Seoul’s "extra initiative" for Rohingya repatriation He said the Rohingyas should go back to Myanmar as they are Myanmar citizens. “They don’t go there but come here.” Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char Island.

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday said some small issues happening along the Bangladesh-India border can be settled through holding meetings between the border forces of the two countries. “Bangladesh and India have settled all major issues through discussions; some small incidents happening along the border between the two countries can be solved through holding meetings between BGB and BSF,” Shringla said when he met Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban. PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. “We want this issue to be resolved,” he quoted the Indian Foreign Secretary as saying. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also agreed with Shringla, said Karim.Covid Issue  The Indian Foreign Secretary said normalcy is coming back in India after the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic setback. Read: Border killings remain an irritant, FM Momen tells Shringla Shringla said all are alert and aware about the Omicron variant of Covid-19 as 21 cases have been detected so far in India. Covid-19 has mutated 15 times before transforming into Omicron variant, said Shringla adding that the variant has been detected in many countries in Europe apart from African countries. He conveyed the greetings of Indian Prime Minister Modi to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina also greeted her Indian counterpart through the Indian Foreign Secretary. The Indian Foreign Secretary appreciated the economic progress of Bangladesh despite the Covid-19 pandemic and said there is good growth in India as well.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami has reiterated his country’s position regarding the killings along the Bangladesh-India border stating that it is a tragedy but it needs to be defined correctly. “We repeatedly said border killing is a tragedy and it must stop. But we need to define it correctly,” he said, explaining that the people who get hurt or killed on the border are from both sides. The High Commissioner said nobody wants anyone to get hurt on the border and both sides need to have much stronger efforts to address the complex issue looking at why people are carrying out illegal activities, including human trafficking, and find ways for closer cooperation. Doraiswami was addressing a dialogue titled “50 Years of Bangladesh-India Partnership: Towards a Journey in the Next 50 Years” as the guest of honour on Wednesday evening. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the dialogue in collaboration with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), India. The High Commissioner laid emphasis on closer cooperation to make the border a core area of prosperity with more border haats, more cross-border economic activities which would be a huge opportunity to change the situation and solve the problem. Read: Deal with border killing as per international law: BNP State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam spoke at the dialogue as the chief guest which was chaired by Prof Rehman Sobhan. Kazi Nabil Ahmed, MP, CPD Distinguished Fellows Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Prof Mustafizur Rahman, former Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri, Executive Director, SANEM, Bangladesh Dr Selim Raihan, among others, spoke at the dialogue. CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun moderated the session while Director General, RIS, India Dr Sachin Chaturvedi delivered the introductory remarks. Talking about future cooperation between the two countries, Doraiswami said they have a huge opportunity to look at young people as future drivers of business. He laid emphasis on the simplification of the payment system and addressing the challenges on the logistics front and highlighted the opportunities through rail-based, land-based and river-based trade. “We’re more than ready (to work and make logistics simpler).”

Bangladesh has announced an extension of border closure with India by another two weeks from June 1 as the coronavirus situation hardly shows signs of improvement. Border with India will remain closed till June 14 but the movement of cargoes carrying goods will remain uninterrupted. Also read: Passengers' movement through Indo-Bangla land ports to remain shut till May 31 "We've extended it (border closure) for 14 more days and will evaluate the situation further," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Sunday. Bangladesh decided to close its border with India for any kind of movement except that of cargo on April 26 which was later extended till May 31 to control the spread of Coronavirus as the situation in the neighbouring country deteriorated. The passage of people through the border between Bangladesh and India has remained suspended since then. In the first 15 days of May, India reported 58,431 deaths with a fatality rate of 1.06 percent. However, in the next two weeks, the country recorded 55,688 deaths with a 1.73 percent fatality rate, according to government figures.  Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Covid-19 mortality stood at 1.58 percent and case positivity rate at 10.11 percent on Sunday. Also read: Bangladeshi injured in BSF firing along Lalmonirhat border The country recorded 34 more Coronavirus-related deaths and 1,444 new cases in 24 hours until Sunday morning. On May 8, Bangladesh confirmed its first case of the Indian coronavirus variant. The government has extended the ongoing lockdown till June 6.

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.