Dhaka has planned to deploy additional troops in Indo-Bangla bordering areas to decrease border killings and alleged cattle smuggling.

Making the statement yesterday, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told The Daily Star that it was regrettable that killings in the border significantly increased recently.

"We [Bangladesh and India] are friends. There should be no killing on our border. Once a life is gone, it cannot be brought back," he said.

Mentioning that Indian Border Security Force (BSF) blames cattle smuggling for the killings, he said smuggling was not supposed to happen as Bangladesh already had enough cattle now.

"Still Dhaka is identifying the areas that are said to be hotspots for cattle smuggling and planning to deploy additional forces," he said.

He also mentioned that the two counterparts had an understanding of not using lethal weapons in the bordering areas to ensure zero death there.

"BSF should be careful and should use non-lethal weapons while guarding their borders," he said.

The foreign minister of Bangladesh spoke about the issue three days after three Bangladeshi nationals were lynched to death by a mob in Assam's Karimganj district.

Karimganj police said the incident took place at Bogrijan Tea Estate under Patharkandi Police Station and near the border with Bangladesh.

According to the Ain O Salish Kendra, at least 43 Bangladeshis were killed by the BSF in 2019. The number was 15 in 2018, 24 in 2017, and 31 in 2016.

Ain O Salish Kendra also condemned and protested the killings, saying such killings were gross violations of human rights.

In a statement yesterday, the rights body demanded that Indian authorities take actions against those involved in such a heinous crime.

"Such extra-judicial killings on the basis of suspicion are not acceptable in any way," it said.

ASK expects Bangladesh to give a strong message to India to stop repetition of such killing.

https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/indo-bangla-border-dhaka-deploy-more-troops-stop-killing-smuggling-1934189