Border skirmish disrupts trade, immigration thru' Sonamasjid

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CHAPAINAWABGANJ, (UNB): Cross-border trade and immigration through Sonamasjid Landport disrupted following the encounter between Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops.

Border guards of Bangladesh and India exchanged fire on Pirojpur border in Shibganj Upazila early Wednesday in a fresh skirmish, scaring local people once again.

None was reported hurt in the firing, which the sources said occurred following an encounter between BSF and gunmen inside India.

Contact between Sonamasjid immigration check-post in Bangladesh and Mahdipur immigration check-post on the Indian side snapped for the firing.

BDR sources said BSF troops from Sultanpur camp in India opened across the border at about 6:15am forcing BDR personnel to fire back.

Commander of 39 battalion of BDR Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria told the news agency that they had first heard sound of firing by the BSF inside India at about 6am.

"At one stage, fire was opened towards us. In response, we fired one shot," the commander said.

The paramilitary BDR troops were put on high alert on the northwestern border after the firing.

The BDR sources also said that they came to know that a shootout between Indian terrorists and the BSF occurred before the firing through the border towards Bangladesh.

Two BSF troops were reported killed and an Indian citizen was wounded in that encounter.

Another report from Chuadanga adds: A Bangladeshi farmer was shot dead by BSF troops at Nimtala border in Damurhuda Upazila early today (Wednesday).

The deceased was identified as Rakibul Islam (35), son of Babar Ali of Sultanpur village of the upazila.