A Bangladeshi youth has been shot to death by members of the Indian Khasia community along the Companiganj border in Sylhet, officials said.

The incident occurred around 8:30pm on Thursday in a betel nut grove along the border.

The deceased was identified as Saleh Ahmed Joydhar, 30, a resident of Karbalar Tuk village in the upazila, according to a press release issued by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Sylhet Battalion-48, signed by its Commanding Officer Lt Col Md Nazmul Haque, Friday.

According to the press release, Saleh, along with two others, had crossed the border into India to bring a consignment of drugs.

They were staying between near a betel nut garden when members of the Khasia community, suspecting them to be betel nut thieves, opened fire with pellet guns, leaving Saleh dead on the spot.

His companions, identified as Suman Mia, 25, of Nazirgaon village, and Masum Ahmed, 20, of Karbalar Tuk village, later carried the body back to Bangladesh.