Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General (DG) Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said that soldier Raishuddin killed in BSF firing on Jashore border was not a target killing.
“It was foggy and dark at the time of the incident. So, the border guards of the two countries were in doubt about the matter,” he said in response to a question from journalists at a joint press conference after the 54th director general level conference between BGB and BSF on Saturday.
About the matter, Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG) Shri Nitin Agarwal said that BSF has already informed BGB in details in this regard.
“We will not explain more about this,” he said in reply to another question from journalists.
He said that around 60 BSF personnel were injured in attacks by smugglers or criminals last year. “Criminals usually attack BSF personnel at close range with sharp weapons. At that time, BSF members fire shots to save their lives. It is not possible to focus the bullet that hits which part of the body.”
He further said, “The lethal weapons are not used on borders. But firing non-lethal weapons at close range can cause fatalities. Even rubber bullets can also kill at close range.”
The BSF DG said, “You are only aware about the incidents of deaths taken place. You are not aware about how many Indian deaths taken place. You are not aware in many cases, we arrested criminals without killing. Apart from this, we arrest many criminals and smugglers and hand them over to BGB. We have to understand the whole thing from different perspectives.”
Both Bangladesh and Indian sides are trying their best to prevent border killings. For this, various activities including joint border patrolling and intelligence sharing continue, he said.
The BGB DG said, “We are trying to increase awareness at the border. We do not want any casualties on the border.”
The officials of the two countries have discussed and agreed on several important issues at this DG level joint conference. In between, they agreed to take a proper and firm stand against the infiltration of forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens crossing the Bangladesh-India border.
With a view to reducing the impact of contaminated water coming through four canals in Akhaura area, both sides have agreed to conduct joint survey and take necessary actions to prevent health hazards of the locals.
The BGB DG urged the BSF DG to immediately re-open remaining portion of Rahimpur Khal on humanitarian ground. The BSF DG in his reply assured of an expeditious execution in re-opening Rahimpur Khal to meet the interest of both sides.
Besides, the BGB DG requested the BSF DG to pursue with the appropriate authorities of India regarding the laying of the Optical Fibre network to connect Dahagram through Tin Bigha corridor under the ‘Connected Bangladesh project’. The BSF DG assured to pursue the matter.
