Benapole (Jashore): Despite repeated promises made at high-level meetings between the two countries to stop border killings, the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has not kept its word. In the last 15 years, 41 Bangladeshis have been brutally killed by the BSF on charges of illegal infiltration at the Sharsha-Benapole border in Jashore alone. More than a hundred more people have returned from the brink of death after being tortured. Not only ordinary infiltrators, but also Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members have not been spared from the brutality of the force.
The most talked about killing incident at the Benapole border on January 22 last year was the killing of BGB soldier Raisuddin. Most recently, on December 24 last year, the BSF tortured and killed three Bangladeshi infiltrators on the same day at the Putkhali border in Benapole and cut their arms and legs. Not a single one of these killings, violating human rights, has been tried to date. Many of the family members of the deceased have lost their income-generating relatives and are helpless. Human rights activists say, "If we cannot give a strong response to the border killings with our heads held high, this trend will continue."
An analysis of the killings and other incidents that have taken place on the border in the last 15 years shows that due to the ease of communication, people from both countries cross the border via the Benapole border route to smuggle cattle, meet relatives or find work. In addition, many people also cross the border near the zero line for farming or fishing. The controversial shoot-on-sight policy of the Indian Border Security Force has been maintained on the Bangladesh-India border, citing the reason of preventing smuggling and illegal immigration from Bangladesh. In this, the BSF has been firing for no reason. However, now, although the number of shots has decreased, there are more cases of people being tortured and having their hands and feet cut and thrown into the river. However, the only victims of their outrage are Bangladeshi citizens. A large part of these casualties are cattle traders. In the last 15 years, 41 Bangladeshis have been killed on the Sharsha-Benapole border. The identities of the deceased cattle traders have been identified, but many of the deceased people who crossed the border from far away remain unknown. Even after the locals find out, they keep the information secret for fear of prosecution.
The Bangladeshis killed on the Sharsha-Benapole border in the last 15 years are Sharif, Raja, Shawkat, Alamangir, Joy Sikder, Rashedul Islam, Abdul Jalil, Israfil, Makhon Majnu, Baten Ahmed, Tariqul Islam, Monir Hossain, Ashanur Rahman, Safiar, Amir, Gaffar, Majnu, Habib, Liton, Sabuj, Ahmed, Saddam, Sameer, Alauddin, Hazrat, Monir, Hanef Ali, Shahinur Rahman, Riazul Morol, Shariful Islam, BGB members Raishuddin, Shabu Hossain, Jangir Alam, Shakibur Rahman and 6 unidentified Bangladeshis.
Rabeya Khatun, sister of Shahabur of Dighirpar village in Benapole, who was killed in BSF firing, said that she killed her brother and threw his veins in the river. If he had not shot his brother and put him in jail, he would have returned one day. There is no counting how many people he has killed in this way.
Abul Kalam, father-in-law of the deceased BGB member Raishuddin, said that he did not expect the brutal death of his son-in-law in the BSF firing. Even after a year, the murder has not been tried. We are demanding a fair trial from the new government.
Binoy Krishna Mallick, executive director of the human rights organization, Rights Jashore, said that this trend will continue if there is no strict response to these inhuman killings that violate human rights.
Rashed Khan, convener of the Jashore branch of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said that we consider India as a neighboring country and a friendly country. However, they do not give us that respect. According to the information of the human rights organization Odhikar, 588 Bangladeshis have been killed by BSF torture across the country in the last 15 years. Hundreds more were injured during this time. This trend continues because there is no strong protest. I hope the current interim government will change this trend.
Jashore 49th Battalion BGB Commander Lt. Col. Saifullah Siddiqui said that the trial in the incident of the death of BGB soldier Raishuddin is ongoing. At that time, the BGB protested against the incident. Regular awareness campaigns are being carried out on the border to prevent border killings or infiltration of ordinary people. Patrols have been strengthened by the BGB. Only everyone's awareness can avoid border killings or any other unpleasant incident in the future.
