BSF promises and border killings

Despite repeated promises, Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has been killing Bangladeshi nationals along the border over the years. The Indian authorities on separate occasions promised to bring the killings of Bangladeshis along the India-Bangladesh border down to zero and would use non-lethal weapons. But, then, as proven, promises were not kept and Bangladeshis are being gunned down on the border.

On Saturday morning, Hasibur Rahman, 28, was reportedly shot down by the BSF men near the Khatiamari border of Rowmari in Kurigram. Going through the media reports, it can be assumed that he might have been a cattle smuggler and trespassed Indian territory. But killing him for that is an excess. As promised, the members of BSF could have used non-lethal weapons for tackling the 'cattle smugglers'. We hope that our next-door neighbour would fulfil its promises made on numerous occasions.

Sharmin Sadia

Student of Marketing, Jahangirnagar University

[email protected]