BGB-BSF to bring down border killings to zero level

Bangladesh and India have reached a consensus to bring down the border killings to zero level and ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the frontiers.
Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Aziz Ahmed on Sunday told the reporters at a press briefing at Pilkhana BGB headquarters, a news agency report said.
here on the outcome of the biannual BGB-BSF conference held in India's New Delhi from August 3-6.
"Last year at least 40 Bangladeshi nationals were killed in Bangladesh-India border areas but this number came down to 26 this year," he mentioned hoping that this figure would reach zero soon.
The BGB DG said the cattle business and smuggling is the root-cause of the border killings that created tension among the people in the frontiers of two neighbouring countries.
Terming the cattle business a very sensitive issue as the Government of India is officially serious about this, Maj Gen Aziz requested Bangladeshis not to enter India to bring cattle ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, second largest religious festival of Muslims.
The DG said in the conference, the issues of trans-border crimes, stopping arrest of Bangladeshi citizens in border areas, preventing illegal trespassing, prevention of illegal migration, human trafficking, smuggling explosive substances, stopping smuggling of contraband items specially drugs, not to do any development works or construction work within 150 yards in the frontiers, preservation of the banks of the trans-boundary rivers and confidence building measures were discussed.
'Felany issue was also discussed in a meeting with the Director General of Border Security Forces (BSF). The DG of BSF informed me about the court verdict regarding the killing of Bangladeshi girl Felany," he said.
If it is necessary to seek justice from the Higher Court, BGB chief said, Felany's father and her counsel will be provided all-out cooperation regarding this.
-SS