By SM Najmus Sakib
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Two Bangladeshi citizens were shot dead while two others sustained bullet wounds after Indian border forces opened fire on a group of people who allegedly crossed the Indian border line to smuggle cattle.
The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly gunned down the Bangladeshi nationals early Thursday along Bangladesh's northern Lalmonirhat border district, Aminul Islam, a police officer at the Hatibandha police station, confirmed to Anadolu Agency.
On Nov. 9, two Bangladeshis were gunned down by the BSF along the same border district of Lalmonirhat.
The BSF allegedly opened fire despite a bilateral understanding between the two neighboring countries not to use lethal weapons along the border.
The two South Asian countries share a 4,096-kilometer (2,545-mile) international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world.
A group of 15 people gathered along the Barakhata Dolapara border point in the northern district’s Hatibandha town early Thursday, Barakhata Union Council member Hafizul Islam told Anadolu Agency.
“The BSF opened fire leaving two men aged between 24 and 42 dead on the spot. Two more men sustained bullet injuries and were taken to hospital,” he continued.
The deceased and the injured men were members of a cattle smuggling group, he alleged, saying that some people from India and Bangladesh smuggle cattle risking their lives.
Barakhata camp Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Commander Abdul Jalil told media that a protest letter was already sent to the BSF following the incident.
Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK), a local non-government legal aid and human rights organization, said at least 12 Bangladeshis were shot dead, 13 injured and 8 others abducted by the BSF until Dec. 8, 2022.
Odhikar, a local human rights organization in Bangladesh, claimed in its latest report that the Indian forces have killed over 1,200 Bangladeshis along the border over the last two decades.
Both countries, however, in a joint statement in September, agreed to work towards bringing the number of border killings down to zero.