Sagar Biswas :
The family of 15-year-old Felani Khatun, who was gunned down by Border Security Force [BSF] at Phulbari upazila border in Kurigram, has yet not got justice though six years have elapsed in the meantime.
On January 7, 2011, the BSF men killed the ill-fated girl while she was coming home along with her father from India through Anantapur border next to Phulbari upazila. Later, the BSF men hanged her body from the barbed wire fence.
The photo of Felani-hanging from barbed wire fence over four hours-had created widespread sensation and severe outcry across the globe.
Against this backdrop, the BSF for the first time had initiated trial in its special court at Sonari Camp in Cooch Behar accusing soldier Amiya Ghosh on August 13, 2013. Strangely, the BSF court acquitted him in the case on September 6 same year.
In the wake of severe criticism, the BSF being pressured by BGB again arranged a review trial on September 22, 2014. And this time, the five-member jury panel headed by BSF Guwahati frontier DIG CP Trivedi acquitted him again.
After travelling a long way, the case is now pending in the apex court of India.
A voluntary organization Nagorik Parishad on Friday at a press conference in the city called for announcing January 7 as “Felani Day” along with naming the Gulshan-1 to Tejgaon road as Felani Boulevard in remembrance of the ill-fated girl.
“We’re very much frustrated seeing the prolonged procedure of Indian Supreme Court. The previous date of the case was fixed on a puja holiday. So, the court was closed and there was no hearing. In this situation, we’re afraid of getting proper justice,” President of Nagorik Parishad Mohammad Shamshuddin said.
“We also think that, the ongoing border killings will not be stopped, if the trail of Felani murder case is completed. The BSF usually kill innocent national of Bangladesh, which is inhuman. To stop such killing forever, the accused Amiya Ghosh must be hanged,” he said.
On the other hand, expressing severe discontent, Felani’s father Nurul Islam said: “I made appeal with the Indian Supreme Court taking cooperation from human rights organization MASUM on August 4, 2015. Chief Justice of Indian SC accepted my plea and decided to hold hearing…..I still hope that, the Indian SC will deliver justice.”
Meanwhile, the border killings are still going unabated despite series of protests by Bangladesh side. According to information provided by Ain o Salish Kendra, at least 236 Bangladeshis were killed by BSF in the last six years between 2010 and 2015. In 2016, the number of killings on the border was around 20.
Felani murder trial and killing of Bangladeshi nationals on the border remain top two matters of dissatisfaction till the date. “I am leaving, after four years of service as the director general of BGB, with the dissatisfaction that border killing and Felani murder cases have not been resolved yet,” former BGB DG Major General Aziz Ahmed had said while leaving his office on November 8.
The family of 15-year-old Felani Khatun, who was gunned down by Border Security Force [BSF] at Phulbari upazila border in Kurigram, has yet not got justice though six years have elapsed in the meantime.
On January 7, 2011, the BSF men killed the ill-fated girl while she was coming home along with her father from India through Anantapur border next to Phulbari upazila. Later, the BSF men hanged her body from the barbed wire fence.
The photo of Felani-hanging from barbed wire fence over four hours-had created widespread sensation and severe outcry across the globe.
Against this backdrop, the BSF for the first time had initiated trial in its special court at Sonari Camp in Cooch Behar accusing soldier Amiya Ghosh on August 13, 2013. Strangely, the BSF court acquitted him in the case on September 6 same year.
In the wake of severe criticism, the BSF being pressured by BGB again arranged a review trial on September 22, 2014. And this time, the five-member jury panel headed by BSF Guwahati frontier DIG CP Trivedi acquitted him again.
After travelling a long way, the case is now pending in the apex court of India.
A voluntary organization Nagorik Parishad on Friday at a press conference in the city called for announcing January 7 as “Felani Day” along with naming the Gulshan-1 to Tejgaon road as Felani Boulevard in remembrance of the ill-fated girl.
“We’re very much frustrated seeing the prolonged procedure of Indian Supreme Court. The previous date of the case was fixed on a puja holiday. So, the court was closed and there was no hearing. In this situation, we’re afraid of getting proper justice,” President of Nagorik Parishad Mohammad Shamshuddin said.
“We also think that, the ongoing border killings will not be stopped, if the trail of Felani murder case is completed. The BSF usually kill innocent national of Bangladesh, which is inhuman. To stop such killing forever, the accused Amiya Ghosh must be hanged,” he said.
On the other hand, expressing severe discontent, Felani’s father Nurul Islam said: “I made appeal with the Indian Supreme Court taking cooperation from human rights organization MASUM on August 4, 2015. Chief Justice of Indian SC accepted my plea and decided to hold hearing…..I still hope that, the Indian SC will deliver justice.”
Meanwhile, the border killings are still going unabated despite series of protests by Bangladesh side. According to information provided by Ain o Salish Kendra, at least 236 Bangladeshis were killed by BSF in the last six years between 2010 and 2015. In 2016, the number of killings on the border was around 20.
Felani murder trial and killing of Bangladeshi nationals on the border remain top two matters of dissatisfaction till the date. “I am leaving, after four years of service as the director general of BGB, with the dissatisfaction that border killing and Felani murder cases have not been resolved yet,” former BGB DG Major General Aziz Ahmed had said while leaving his office on November 8.
