BSF Opens Fire Along Border, Two Bangladeshis Injured

Two Bangladeshi nationals were critically injured after being shot by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the Basantapur border in Kaliganj upazila of Satkhira district. The incident took place in the early hours of Wednesday (June 3) when BSF personnel opened fire at them while they were returning to Bangladesh across the Kalindi River.

The injured individuals have been identified as Md. Mohiuddin, 42, and Md. Shahin, 28, both residents of Shitalpur village in Kaliganj upazila. Local residents rescued the bullet-ridden men and rushed them to a local hospital for emergency treatment.

According to local sources and law enforcement officials, the two men had illegally crossed into India about a year ago. After staying in various parts of the neighboring country, they were most recently employed as construction workers in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intending to return home after a long period, they attempted to cross the border under the cover of darkness late Tuesday night.

As they were swimming across the Kalindi River via the Bashjharia area adjacent to the Basantapur border to enter Bangladesh, BSF personnel spotted them and opened fire. Both sustained serious bullet wounds in the attack. Local residents initially rushed them to the Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex during the night. However, as their physical condition deteriorated, the attending doctors transferred them to the Satkhira Sadar Hospital for advanced medical care.

Confirming the incident, Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Jewel Hossain stated that a preliminary investigation reveals the two individuals were shot by the BSF while returning to Bangladesh from India illegally. Upon receiving the information, a police team inspected the site, and a thorough investigation into the matter is currently underway.

Meanwhile, residents in the border areas complained that incidents of firing targeted at Bangladeshis along the frontier occur repeatedly. Human rights organizations have also long been demanding effective measures to stop the use of lethal weapons along the border to prevent such casualties.