DHAKA: Two Bangladeshi cattle traders were shot down by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Jhenidah and Chapainawabganj frontiers on Monday morning, official sources said.  

Major SM Humayan Kabir of Chuadanga-35 Rifles Battalion told Bangalnews24.com.bd that some traders of Naraighat Hotathpara village tried to cross Srinathpur border in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenidah around 4 am for buying cows as per usual informal cross-border trade between people of two sides.

Bahar Ali, 26, died on the scene as BSF opened fire. Later, BSF men took his body over to Chutipur camp of India.

Tension boiled up in the border area after the incident. “BDR asked their counterpart to return the body immediately, but response is yet to be received,” said one source.

About another incident of shooting, Lt Col Zayed Hossain, commanding officer of 39 Rifles Battalion, said BSF Sabedlpur jawans opened fire on Rabu Mandal, 35, at the ‘no man’s land’ on Chouka border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj while he was returning from India along with cattle in the morning.

Rabu Mandal, an inhabitant of Hajarbighee village, died on the spot.

BDR officials strongly protested the killing and proposed to hold a flag meeting in this connection.

BDST: 1511 Hrs, June 21, 2010
Corr./AHS/SA/SMS/MUA