BGB lodges strong protest over Sabuj Mia’s death

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday night returned the body of a Bangladeshi citizen shot dead earlier in the day at the Patgram border in Lalmonirhat.

The body of Sabuj Mia, 30, was handed over following a company commander-level flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF at the British Road Point of Shamshernagar border around 10:00pm.

The BGB team was led by Subedar Abul Kashem, commander of Shamshernagar Company Camp under the 61 BGB Teesta Battalion, while Inspector Anaram Singh, company commander of Chenakata Company under the 156 BSF Battalion, headed the BSF side.

Police officials from both countries were also present.

BGB Company Commander Abul Kashem confirmed that BSF handed over the body, which was later delivered to the victim's family around midnight. Sabuj's elder brother, Arif Hasan, received the body.

"During the flag meeting, we lodged a strong protest with BSF over the killing of a Bangladeshi citizen by shooting at the border," Kashem said.

Sabuj was a resident of Panchbhandar village of Patgram upazila. His brother Arif said, "After receiving the body from BGB and police, we buried him at the local graveyard the same night."

He added that Sabuj had never been involved in cattle smuggling but was lured by local smugglers to cross into India, where he was shot dead.

According to BGB and local sources, Sabuj and 8–10 others illegally entered India early Thursday morning to bring cattle. Members of the Chenakata BSF Camp patrol team under Mathabhanga Police Station in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal opened fire, killing Sabuj instantly, while the others fled back into Bangladesh.