The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has returned the body of a Bangladeshi citizen who died after being detained by BSF at the Jahurpurtek border in Chapainawabganj.
Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion 53 in Chapainawabganj, confirmed the information.
The deceased was Rabiul Islam, and his body was handed over following a flag meeting between the border forces of the two countries around 9:30pm on Monday.
Members of BSF, BGB, and local representatives were present at that time.
He said, “According to the BSF’s claim, Rabiul Islam suffered from epilepsy. He was detained after crossing the border into India with the intention of smuggling cattle. Then he suddenly had a convulsion and fell ill while in custody, leading to his death. They presented the same statement in two rounds of flag meetings.”
However, when questioned whether this death was due to illness or something else, the Commanding Officer of 53 BGB said, “In that case, the actual cause of death can only be determined once the autopsy report is received.”
He also said, the body was handed over to the police, who will conduct a post-mortem. It will then be possible to verify the BSF’s claim that the death was “due to illness.”
On Saturday night, Rabiul Islam and several others crossed the border into India despite the intense cold. They entered the Nurpur area of Murshidabad district, India, through the border pillar 19/7 S area of Jahurpurtek with the intention of smuggling cattle.
At that time, members of the Patla Tola sub-camp of BSF under Raghunathganj Police Station chased them. While the others managed to flee, Rabiul was caught by BSF. On Sunday morning, BSF took him to a camp after detaining him.
As his physical condition deteriorated there, he was admitted to a hospital in India. He died while undergoing treatment. Subsequently, after completing the post-mortem and formal procedures, the body was handed over to Bangladesh.
However, residents of the Jahurpurtek area alleged that Rabiul died due to torture after being detained by the BSF.
