High Commission of India, Dhaka
September 1, 2005
PRESS RELEASE
____________________The High Commission of India, Dhaka has been surprised to see the provocative and one-sided articles in Bangladeshi media on 31 st August 2005 regarding firing incidents in Brahmanbaria and Thakurgaon districts. It was unfairly alleged that BSF opened fire in Brahmanbaria on labourers when they were lifting sand from Shalda river and that a farmer was fired on while he was working on his crops.
2. The facts of these incidents, as conveyed by the BSF to High Commission of India, are as follows:
3. On 30 th Aug 2005, BSF Border Outpost at Kamthana heard sound of motorboats in river Vijay, opposite BP No.2049/6-S and 2049/7-S, approximately 500 yards inside India . The Coy Comdr at BOP Kamthana asked BSF patrol to approach the area. The BSF patrol found that there were approximately 30-35 boats and more than 100 persons in the boats who were engaged in loading sand from the bank of river Vijay inside India . The BSF patrol was fired upon by Bangladeshi criminals/persons who were on the boats with country-made weapons. In self-defence, the BSF retaliated. On being fired upon, the criminals / smugglers took away the boats towards Bangladesh . One of the Bangladeshis who fired on BSF party was later on identified as Sadik Mia, a notorious listed criminal of village Putta, who is presently staying in Bangladesh and is wanted by Indian Police. On search of the area immediately after the incident, two dead bodies were found on the bank of river Vijay inside India . One of the dead bodies was identified by the civilians of the area as that of Tahir Mia S/O late Abdul Karim Mia of village – Putta, Post- Kasba, Distt- Brahmanbaria ( Bangladesh ), who is a known and listed criminal. An FIR was lodged with Police Station – Bisalgarh.
4. In another incident on 30 th Aug 2005 at about 0420 hrs, BSF Border Outpost at Kukradha in Distt- Uttar Dinajpur( India ) and opposite Distt- Dinajpur ( Bangladesh ) observed 5-6 Bangladeshi criminals were tampering with international boundary fence and trying to cut the fence to cross over to the Indian side. The BSF personnel challenged them to stop and surrender, but instead of paying heed to the warning, one of the miscreants threw an iron dah with intention of causing grievous injury. In self-defence, one of the BSF soldiers fired two rounds, which hit one of the miscreants, who succumbed on the spot. The others escaped towards Bangladesh . On searching the area, one iron dah, along with personal belongings were recovered from the spot. The dead body of the deceased was identified as Afsar Ali ( Age 42 years), S/O Anish Mohd , R/O Vill – Chilkli, Post – Mujhabad, PS- Ranisankail, Distt- Thakurgaon ( Bangladesh). Subsequently, two flag meetings have been held between the BSF and BDR and dead body of the deceased has been handed over.
5. The allegation in Bangladeshi media that BSF hung the body of Afsar Ali on the fence after shooting him, is completely malicious and untrue. Such exaggerated and incorrect reports do not contribute to peaceful and effective management of the border nor do they help in the development of better relations between India and Bangladesh .