BDR, BSF trade fire on Thakurgaon border, 1 killed

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Heavy gunfight took place between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Thakurgaon and Satkhira borders yesterday.

In Thakurgaon, the border skirmish took place on Dharmagarh frontier under Ranishankoil upazila following the death of a Bangladeshi farmer in BSF firing.

The dead was identified as Ershad Ali, 30, son of Mortuza of Shahanabad village under the upazila.

Meanwhile, the Indian border guards gunned down another Bangladeshi farmer near Nitpur frontier in Porsha upazila of Naogaon district yesterday morning.

The dead was identified as Mohiful Islam, 40, of Nitpur village.

Around 400 people of Shahanabad and adjacent villages left their homes following the hours-long skirmish along the Dharmagarh border.

Witnesses said a few farmers were mowing their fields in the border area around 8:00am when BSF troops of 47 battalion under Sreepur camp suddenly started firing towards the Bangladeshi territory.

According to witnesses and other sources, Ershad Ali died on the spot and his body had been lying in between pillars 373 and 374 until 2:00pm.

The exchange of gunshots ensued as BDR troops of 20 battalion of Thakurgaon soon rushed to the spot and took position.

BDR and witnesses claimed that the BSF fired at least 100 shots while the BDR fired only 20.

Locals also claimed that two farmers were injured during the skirmishes, but the BDR denied it.

Villagers and BDR men recovered the body of Ershad around 2:30pm and sent it to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

When contacted, BDR officials said they proposed a flag meeting to their Indian counterpart but India was yet to respond as of filing of this report at 7:00pm.

Colonel Gulzar Uddin Ahmed of 15 Rifles Battalion of Dinajpur rushed to Thakurgaon and visited the area. He expressed his deep concern over the incident.

Meanwhile, the BSF stepped up security on its territory along three northern districts–Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh, BDR said.

SATKHIRA
The border guards of the two neighbouring countries traded gunshots across the borders of Sadar and Kalaroa upazilas until early yesterday morning.

BDR sources said BSF troops of Tarali camp in Swarupnagar Police Station under North 24 Parganas district of India fired towards the BDR men in Kakdanga frontier of Kalaroa at about 9:45pm “without any provocation”.

The BSF also fired towards Toluigachha borders in Sadar upazila at the same time.

In reply, the BDR personnel in both areas fired 51 rounds of bullet.

Both the sides traded some 248 rounds of bullet, a BDR source said, adding that the BDR troops have been put on high alert as the BSF took positions with heavy arms.

None was injured during the exchange of fire that continued until 5:18am, but the skirmishes panicked the locals.

Tension has been prevailing in the border areas due to frequent exchange of fire between the border guards of the two counties.

NAOGAON
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) sources said the BSF men of Kedaripara camp opened fire on Mohiful when he was guarding paddy on his land at about 5:00am, killing him on the spot.

Witnesses said the BSF men also entered Bangladesh territory and took away the body to their camp.

BDR sent a latter to its Indian counterpart demanding immediate return of the body. The BSF did not respond as of 6:00pm yesterday.

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