BSF Gunfire Claims Life of Alleged Smuggler

A Bangladeshi youth was killed in firing by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in the Dattagram border area of Kulaura Upazila in Moulvibazar district.

According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion 46 in Sreemangal, a group of six to seven Bangladeshi smugglers illegally entered India through the Dattagram border around 7:00 pm on Thursday. The group reportedly crossed near border pillar 1852/5-S into the Lakhairchar area inside India with the intention of bringing smuggled goods into Bangladesh with the assistance of Indian smugglers.

BGB stated that members of the BSF's Lathiapura Camp under the 199 Battalion attempted to stop the group after they entered the Lakhairchar area. According to the account provided by BGB, the Bangladeshi smugglers allegedly tried to attack the BSF personnel with locally made weapons. In response, BSF members fired two to three rounds in self-defense.

One of the alleged smugglers, Md. Mujib Ali, 20, was shot and killed at the scene. He was a resident of Dattagram village in Kulaura Upazila and the son of Md. Ajib Ali.

Sources said that the other members of the group returned to Bangladesh and are currently in hiding. Mujib Ali had previously been accused of involvement in transporting smuggled goods across the border.

EN/SA