The body of a Bangladeshi national, reportedly a former member of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), was recovered from India’s South Tripura district on Saturday morning, a day after he went missing while collecting grass for his cattle.
The deceased, Angthaipru Marma, 66, was a resident of Fenerkool, a border village in Ramgarh upazila of Khagrachhari. His bloodstained body was found submerged in water on the Indian side of the Feni River, in the Sabroom area of South Tripura, across the border from Ramgarh.”
Family members had found the body and brought it to the Bangladeshi side earlier that morning.
According to family members and local residents, Angthaipru left home around 2pm on Friday to collect grass for his cattle. When he did not return by 9:30pm, his family began searching for him in nearby areas.
After failing to trace him, they informed the local Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) outpost around 10pm. BGB personnel also joined the search.
His son, Thoe Anggya Marma, said villagers and family members resumed the search early Saturday. Around 8:30am, they spotted a sack of grass collected by his father on the bank of the Feni River near the border in Fenerkool.
They then searched the surrounding area and found his father’s body submerged in water on the Indian side of the river.
He said his father had an injury mark on his forehead, which was still bleeding when the body was found.
Following the discovery, BGB personnel and police rushed to the area near border pillar No. 2214/18-S BD. However, family members had already recovered the body from across the river and brought it to Bangladesh.
Police subsequently visited the spot, prepared an inquest report and took the body to the police station.
Shamsul Haque, assistant director of Ramgarh 43 BGB, said the force had informed India’s Border Security Force (BSF) about the man’s disappearance on Friday night and sought its assistance in locating him.
Ramgarh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Nazrul Alam said injury marks were found on the deceased’s forehead and above his nose.
“The cause of death will be confirmed after receiving the autopsy report,” he said, adding that the body would be sent to Khagrachhari District Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.
Necessary legal procedures are under way, he added.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Ahsan Ul Islam, commanding officer of Ramgarh 43 BGB Battalion, said the BGB would take necessary measures in connection with the incident in accordance with border laws.
