Bangladesh has lodged a formal protest with India against the recent killing of a minor girl on the Fulbari border allegedly by the Border Security Force.
High Commissioner Rajeet Mitter was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here and a note verbale was handed over to him by the acting Foreign Secretary Mostafa Kamal. The government expressed strong feelings against the ‘brutal and senseless killing' of the 15-year-old girl.
Mr. Mitter, according to the Ministry, said he would convey Dhaka's concerns to the appropriate authorities in New Delhi. He also expressed the hope that the two countries would be able to work out ways to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The BSF allegedly shot Felani even as she got entangled in the barbed-wire fence. An illegal immigrant in India, she was returning home from Delhi with her father to get married.
The killing got wide publicity in the media.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun said the government would raise the issue at the two-day Home Secretary-level talks, set to begin here on Wednesday. Meeting of a joint working group of the two countries began on Tuesday.
Joint Secretary (Political) Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed is leading a 12-member team of officials from different Ministries, while Indian Joint Secretary Shambhu Singh is heading a 10-member team at the JWG and Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) meetings.
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder will lead a 15-member delegation, while his Indian counterpart G.K. Pillai will lead a 13-member team at the 11th meeting to discuss border issues.
Reports suggest that at least four persons were killed by the BSF in January. Media and human rights bodies estimated that in 2010, the BSF shot and killed 74 Bangladeshis, wounded 72 and abducted 43 others.
Meanwhile, a writ petition was filed on Monday in the High Court, seeking directive for the government to provide compensation to the family of Felani. The National Forum for Protection of Human Rights filed it as a public interest litigation petition.
