Bangladesh has told India to take “urgent steps” to stop BSF from killing its nationals on the border.
Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen told journalists here that three Bangladeshis were killed on the border by BSF in 2018 but the number has gone up 12 times with 35 Bangladesh nationals killed in BSF firing in 2019.
“The two border guard forces have been holding regular conferences and one issue our BGB raised was how to bring down killing of Bangladesh nationals on the border . But it seems to have had little effect as such killings appear to be rising,” Momen said.
“Our deep concerns have been conveyed to Delhi formally.”
BGB director general Maj Gen Shafinul Islam has recently said that 445 Bangladeshis have returned to the country since Indian states started a drive to ferret out illegal migrants.
The statement has been seen by BJP and their supporters as a vindication of large scale illegal migration from Bangladesh to India and the saffron camp has felt vindicated in its conviction to take strong measures to stop it.
Momen was briefing journalists on PM Sheikh Hasina‘s forthcoming tour to West Asia.
His junior minister Shahriar Alam will accompany the PM and not join the Raisina Dialogue starting in Delhi on Tuesday.
Analysts interpret this as expression of Bangladesh’s angst over the NRC-CAA furore.
Home minister Kamal and Momen himself have cancelled scheduled visits to India last month on the same issue.
Shahriar in his facebook post said Indian students applying for visa to study medicine in Bangladesh should not worry as the whole process would be completed by Jan 31.
Media reports, including Northeast Now, have suggested that Bangladesh missions in India were not clearing student visa for boys and girls from Kashmir who have signed up for medical education in Bangladesh.