BGB
Bangladeshi teen shot dead at Dinajpur border, BSF claims “self defence”
A Bangladeshi teenager has been shot dead and another injured, reportedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF), near the border in Sadar upazila of Dinajpur, authorities said today (September 8, 2022).
The deceased was identified as Minar, 17, son of Jahangir Hossain of Askorpurup union.
The incident occurred along Dainur border in the upazila last night (September 7, 2022), said Khanpur Union Parishad Chairman Abu Bakar Siddique.
Read: BGB-BSF DG-level border conference begins in Dhaka
Locals said they heard two to three rounds of gunshots around 10 pm.
They found the bullet-hit body in the Haripur Teliapara area of the border this morning, said the UP chairman.
The injured Bangladeshi and the body of the teenager are currently under BSF's custody, according to the locals.
Read: Kurigram: BSF hands over bodies of two minor siblings
Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and BSF are expected to hold a flag meeting today over the incident, according to BSF.
Yesterday, a BSF patrol team was performing duties in AOR of BOP Hariharpur 174 Bn RGJ.
At about 9:05 pm, they observed about 9-10 Bangladeshi “smugglers” approaching the fence to receive some consignment, BSF added.
Read BGB seizes drugs worth Tk 12 crore in Cox's Bazar
The patrol team challenged them to stop but the “smugglers” tried to encircle one of the BSF jawans, it claimed.
On observing the jawan being surrounded, his colleague threw a stun grenade to disperse the “smugglers” but they did not pay heed and closed in more tightly, BSF said.
On seeing the aggression of the “smugglers”, the jawan fired one round of PAG in the air, but they kept closing in, it said.
To deescalate the situation, the jawan again fired another round of PAG towards the “smugglers”.
Despite several warnings, the “smugglers” apparently tried to capture the jawan and his weapon.
Read BGB inaugurates fish fries release program on the occasion of National Fisheries Week-2022
The jawan fired in self defence when the “smugglers” tried to grab his rifle and the bullet directly hit the man who was holding his rifle. He died on the spot, according to BSF.
On hearing the sound of firing and seeing their associate getting hit, the other “smugglers” escaped towards the Bangladesh side, it said.
BGB seizes drugs worth Tk 12 crore in Cox's Bazar
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Saturday claimed to have seized banned drugs worth nearly Tk 12 crore from Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila.
Acting on a tip off, a special patrol team of BGB conducted a drive in Teknaf’s Jaliapara area early this morning.
"The team seized a plastic bag containing 2.1kg of Ice and 30,000 pieces of Yaba worth Tk 11.65 crore from a boat anchored on the banks of the Naf river at 3am," said Lt Colonel Sheikh Khalid Md Iftekhar, Commander of BGB’s Teknaf battalion.
Read: BGB seizes drugs worth Tk 7 crore in Cox’s Bazar
However, no one has been detained in connection with the seizure, he added.
Drug peddler held with Tk1.5 crore yaba pills in Cox's Bazar
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) claimed to have detained a drug peddler with 50,000 yaba pills worth Tk1.5 crore from Cox's Bazar's Teknaf Friday.
The detainee was identified as Md Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal, 20, of the district, Lieutenant Colonel Md Mehdi Hossain Kabir, commanding officer of BGB 34 Battalion in Cox's Bazar, said.
Read: Myanmar’s military regime encourages yaba smuggling to Bangladesh
On information, a team of BGB 34 managed to nab the peddler travelling in a three-wheeler from Palongkhali union parishad around 4:30am.
The yaba pills were found under the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Mostofa was handed over to Ukhiya Police Station, Mehdi said.
BGB seizes drugs worth Tk 7 crore in Cox’s Bazar
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) claimed to have seized over 1kg of Ice and 50,000 pieces of Yaba worth nearly TK 7 crore at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district early on Saturday.
Tipped off, a team of BGB’s Teknaf battalion challenged two men coming from Myanmar in the Noapara Mochoni Bazar area of the upazila around 3.45am, said Commander of Teknaf Battalion-2, Lt Colonel Sheikh Khalid Mohammad Iftekhar.
The alleged smugglers fled the scene immediately, leaving the drugs behind.
Later, the BGB men spotted a plastic bag from the spot and found 1.070 kg of crystal meth and 50,000 pieces of Yaba worth Tk 6.85 crore inside it.
Read: Over 1kg crystal meth seized in Cox’s Bazar
However, the BGB men couldn’t detain anyone during the drive.
BGB inaugurates fish fries release program on the occasion of National Fisheries Week-2022
Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Sakil Ahmed on Tuesday inaugurated the fish releasing programme as part of successful implementation of the National Fisheries Week-2022 with the slogan 'Nirapad Mache Bharbo Desh, Bangabandhu Bangladesh'.
The National Fisheries Week began July 23 with the aim of making the country's people more aware of and involved in increasing safe fish production.
On this occasion, he released the fish fry of different species of fish in the pond adjacent to Shaheed Captain Ashraf Hall of BGB headquarters in Pilkhana this morning.
Read: WTO ministers reach deals on fisheries, food, COVID vaccines
In his speech during fish fry releasing programme, the DG of the BGB said that the importance of meat in building a healthy nation is immense. Fish fulfills the bulk of our non-vegetarian needs. Therefore, there is no alternative to fisheries in the present context, he said.
He also said that Bangladesh is a country of rivers, canals and ponds. if fish is cultivated at the individual and institutional level without abandoning all these ponds and reservoirs, it is possible to earn a lot of foreign exchange by exporting it after meeting up the national nutritional needs.
The top official of the paramilitary force called upon every BGB member to cultivate fish by renovating all the ponds and reservoirs in all regions, institutions, sectors, battalions and BOPs of the BGB. He expressed his firm belief that every member of BGB will contribute strongly to building Sonar Bangla, the dream of the father of the nation, by participating spontaneously in all the great works of the country, not only fishing.
Batighar stages 'Radcliffe Line' at BSA
Theatre group Batighar staged the 28th show of its famous play "Radcliffe Line" at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Wednesday.
The play, written and directed by Sanjoy Sarker Muktonil, depicts how a political barrier divides individuals and dehumanises them.
The plot revolves around an incident between two troops from Border Guard Bangladesh and Border Security Force of India, which portrays Jamal, a soldier of BGB and Hiralal, a BSF soldier, pursuing a cow grazing on no man's land.
Hiralal discovers a tunnel beneath the border barrier while following the cow from separate sides of the Radcliffe Line. Inside, Jamal and Hiralal confront each other and soon start fighting.
After hours of combat, the exhausted soldiers engage in a conversation and realise how similar their lives are. They discuss their history, their feelings for their families, and other topics.
Through the conversation, the soldiers become aware that they have been dehumanised by a phantom line that has robbed them of their humanity. However, just before the two soldiers are about to dissolve their illogical animosity, an unknown assailant kills them both with long-range shots.
The lead characters of the play were performed by Khalid Hasan Rumi, Sharan Biswas, Shishir Sarkar, and Sanjay Halder.
Despite being staged on a regular working day, the hall was full of theatre enthusiast audiences who lauded the frequent, witty conversations between the characters, as well as their skilled acting.
Radcliffe Line was first staged on July 27, 2018, at the Studio Theatre Hall of the BSA.
Dhaka, New Delhi reiterate resolve to bring down border killings to zero level
The 5-day director general (DG) level border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BSF) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) ended here at BGB headquarters renewing the consensus in bringing down the border killings to zero level.
The conference, which began on July 17, ended today (Thursday) with signing a Joint Record of Discussion (JRD).
DG BGB Major General Shakil Ahmed was leading 20-member Bangladesh delegation, while his counterpart DG BSF Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh led a 9-member Indian delegation at the talks.
Both sides agreed to bring down the killing, injuring and beating unarmed nationals of both countries to zero by adopting extra precautionary measures along the border, such as, increasing Coordinated Patrols specially during the latter part of Night until morning.
Also read: BGB-BSF DG-level border conference begins in Dhaka
Both sides also agreed to undertake joint efforts to bring down the number of incidents of assault and border crime by intensifying various initiatives like public awareness programmes, undertaking appropriate socio-economic developmental programmes in vulnerable areas, educating border population about the sanctity of IB (international Border) and also agreed to preventing criminals and inhabitants from crossing the IB.
Briefing reporters at the BGB headquarters after signing the JRD, BGB DG Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed said that they have both agreed to bring down the border killings to zero with the joint initiatives of the two countries.
The BGB chief also said that the issue of border killings was discussed in the meeting very seriously and "we agreed that both sides not only will reduce border killings, but reduce the incidents to zero level."
He said the two sides openly discussed all issues related to the border including killings at the border. "We have agreed on everything," he said.
Also read: BGB, BGP to work together to step up border security
When asked why casualties are not stopped despite agreement reached every year BSF chief Pankaj Kumar Singh said, "we hear the same question every year. Our relationship with Bangladesh is very different and different from western countries. We are constantly discussing the border issue at various levels."
Criminals are in both countries. Both countries have good and bad people. The improvement in border killing situation was good last year. This year is getting better. There are good and bad people in every society of the two countries, the DG BSF added.
Claiming that relationship between the two border forces are better than before, he also said that the BSF have started using non-lethal weapons to reduce border killings.
Meanwhile, the conference highlighted the importance of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) in curbing the menace of smuggling contrabands, such as, various narcotics (especially Yaba), fire arms, FICN, gold etc and both sides agreed to remain cautious and steadfast to stop smuggling through sharing of real time information and also agreed to active anti-smuggling efforts through optimum involvement and pursuance.
To enhance mutual understanding and bi-lateral relation between the two friendly forces both sides agreed to resume all activities under the framework of CBMP (Coordinated Border Management Plan) as the COVID situation improves gradually.
Finally, both sides agreed to reflect the commitment and decision of the conference at the ground level in true spirit to maintain the peace and tranquility at the border.
Woman held with 30,000 USD in Benapole
A woman has been detained at Benapole check post along with 30,000 US Dollar, BGB officials said Wednesday.
The detainee is Jerin Sultana, 35, daughter of Nazim Uddin of Dendabar village in Savar’s Ashulia.
Tipped off, a team of BGB-49 detained Jerin, who returned from India, when she was waiting to cross the check post after completing the customs immigration process on Tuesday evening.
Read: Two held with 2.30 lakh USD at Dhaka airport
Jashore BGB-49 Captain Lt. Colonel Shahed Minhaj Siddiqui said subsequent checking of her baggage led to the seizure of the US dollars.
A case was filed against the detainee under Money Laundering Act with the Benapole port police.
She was handed over to police, added the officer.
Cargo plane carrying munitions from Serbia to Bangladesh crashes in Greece
A Ukrainian cargo plane carrying munitions from Serbia to Bangladesh crashed in northern Greece Saturday, authorities said.
The plane was carrying Serbian-made mortar ammunition for Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladesh Army, the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Directorate said Sunday.
"The mortar and training shells were bought under the Directorate General of Defence Purchase (DGDP) deal through a company. The consignment is covered by insurance," it added.
The An-12 cargo plane smashed into fields between two villages late Saturday as it was flying from Serbia to Jordan.
Also read: Greece plane crash: Cargo aircraft was carrying weapons to Bangladesh : Serbian minister
Locals reported seeing a fireball and hearing explosions for two hours after the crash. A plume of white smoke was still rising from the front end of the plane Sunday morning.
Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic told a news conference today that all eight crew members were killed.
"The plane was carrying 11.5 tons of Serbian-made mortar ammunition to Bangladesh, which was the buyer. It had taken off from the Serbian city of Nis and had been due to make a stopover in Amman, Jordan," he added.
The plane was operated by the Ukrainian cargo carrier Meridian, and the Ukrainian consul in Thessaloniki told local officials that the crew members were all Ukrainian.
"These were illuminating mortar mines and training (mines). ... This flight had all necessary permissions in accordance with international regulations," Nebojsa told AP.
Also read: Ukrainian cargo plane crashes in Greece
The plane crashed shortly before 11pm, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Kavala International Airport.
Minutes before, the pilot of the plane had told air traffic controllers that there was a problem with one of his engines and that he had to make an emergency landing. He was directed to Kavala airport but never made it there.
The plane is a Soviet-era four-engine turboprop cargo carrier.
Drone footage shows that small fragments are all that is left from the plane. Firefighters who rushed to the scene in the night were prevented from reaching the crash site by smoke and an intense smell that they feared might be toxic.
Nearby residents were told to keep their windows shut all night, not to leave their homes and to wear masks. Authorities said they did not know if there were dangerous chemicals on the plane, including those contained in batteries.
Kurigram: BSF hands over bodies of two minor siblings
India's Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday handed over to the Bangladesh authorities the bodies of two minor siblings, who went missing on Friday in the border area of Kurigram’s Phulbari upazila.
The deceased were identified as Parveen Khatun, 8, and Shakibul Hasan, 4. They were the children of Rahim Uddin of Poschim Shukati village in Nageshwari upazila.
Read: Cattle traders robbed of Tk 30 lakh in Meghna
The bodies were handed over around 8pm on Tuesday after Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held a flag meeting with their Indian counterparts at Dharmapur border in Kashipur union.
On Friday, the two siblings went missing while crossing the Nilkumor river, after the BSF chased them as they were in a group trying to cross the border at Phulbari in Kurigram to sneak into Bangladesh illegally.
On Saturday morning, the BSF recovered the bodies and kept them in a morgue.