Border killings continue despite BSF assurance of tolerance: FS The total number of Bangladeshis killed by BSF during the period from January 1 to Novem-ber 14 rose to 84.  Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes on Saturday said Bangladesh expects progress in the long running issue of sharing waters of the Teesta River during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi next month.(UNB, Dhaka) Hasina's visit deferred due to the Copenhagen climate change summit is likely to take place on January 11. The visit was scheduled on December 19 but both Hasina and Indian PM Dr Manmohan Singh were engaged in Copenhagen. During the planned visit several agreements and Memorandum of Understandings are likely to be signed to facilitate transportation of India's Over Dimensional Consignments (ODC) for Palatana power project in Tripura, strengthening Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute to remove the hassle of certification of Bangladeshi export goods, facilitating Bangladesh -Nepal and Bangladesh-Bhutan connectivity through India. To arrive at a mandate from the Hasina-Manmohan summit, Dhaka sought a date from Delhi to hold ministerial-level Joint River Commission (JRC) meeting before the PM's visit. The Indian side has not yet responded to the Bangladesh's intention. In reply to a question the Foreign Secretary said giving facility to India to transport its ODCs through Ashuganj Port is not a transit. Asked about the killing of Bangladeshi citizens by Indian BSF, Quayes said the Bangladesh side keeps sustained pressure on the Indian side to stop the killing. Despite assurance from India to show maximum tolerance by BSF, incidents of killing are taking place along the border. "We're keeping pressure and we're trying to find out other ways to address the problem," he said. On Bangladesh-Myanmar, Quayes said the Foreign Secretary level consultations will be held here this month where existing issues like border trade, banking facility, repatriation of Rohingya refugees, maritime boundary, etc will be discussed. However, he said a technical level meeting between Bangladesh and Myanmar on maritime boundary issue will be held in Dhaka on January 8. He said regular engagement with Myanmar will help address the issues between the two countries. TBT Report adds: One Bangladeshi National was killed and eight other received bullet injuries as Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire on unarmed Bangladeshis in last one week as three more Bangladeshis were wounded shot by BSF along Thakurgaon border on Wednesday morning. The latest victims along Thakurgaon border were identified as Azizul Islam, 25, son of Wasu Mohammad, Biplop, 25, son of Ratan and Srikant, 30, son of Monindra of Deurjhari village under the Sadar upazilla of Thakurgaon. Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) sources said a group of local cattle traders were returning home with cattle from India at around 4.00 am. When they reached near the pillar number 388/3-S, BSF of Hatkhola camp opened fire on them, leaving the three injured. Earlier, on November 14 BSF killed a Bangladeshi cattle trader along Hapania border Sapahar upazila in Naogaon and injured five Bangladeshis as they were shot by BSF along Chapainawabgonj and Lalmonirhat border. Meanwhile, the total number of Bangladeshis killed by BSF during the period from January 1 to Novem-ber 14 rose to 84. http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm |
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