Firm stand against border killings urged
Human rights activists yesterday said the government should take strong position to stop killing on border by Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
They also criticised India's activities in bordering areas saying India gave commitments repeatedly to stop border killings, but did not follow its promises in reality.
The remarks came from the inaugural session of a two-day discussion on “Problems of people of border area and our duty” held in the city.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) Executive Director Sultana Kamal said, “People residing in border areas have been suffering a lot.”
“We do not think about the matter seriously until we lost Felani,” she said. “We may be a small country, but we should show our power to pursue India to stop BSF's killings.”
Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of International Relations of Dhaka University, said BSF is playing role of judge and executioner.
“According to international law, no one can kill any person during crossing the border without permission until they are found with firearms”, he said.
“Goods worth about US$ 3.5 billion enter Bangladesh from India through border while goods worth US$ 0.5 billion go into India from Bangladesh.”
Imtiaz said the fence is set up to control the smuggling rather than to stop it. “The killings will be stopped if we could institutionalise the market.”
Suman Chowdhury of Panchbibi of Joypurhat described how cattle are smuggled through borders. “BSF shoots Bangladeshi when they do not get share of smuggled goods.”
Residents in border area are needy people, he said. They do not get proper facilities. Even VGF or VGD cards are not allowed to the families that lost members to BSF, he added.
BSF killed 252 people and abducted 116 others between 2008 and 2010, according to a paper ASK presented at the discussion.
Tapon Bose, executive director of South Asian Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR); and Kiriti Roy, secretary of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Surakhya Moncha; also addressed it.
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