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Felani’s father wants BSF guard to hang
A distraught father of Felani Khatun, the young girl who had been shot by India’s Border Security Force, is expecting justice.
Published : 7 Jan 2015, 07:19 PM
Updated : 7 Jan 2015, 07:19 PM
All he wants is the hanging of Amiya Ghosh, the border guard who had shot his daughter.
Nurul Islam Nuru of Kurigram told bdnews24.com of his wish on the fourth anniversary of the tragedy that shattered his life.
On Jan 7, 2011, Felani died after being shot by the Indian border guards while trying to cross over to Bangladesh by making her way through a barbed wire fence at the Ananatapur border in the Phulbarhi Upazilla.
The family organised Milad Mahfil on Wednesday, which happened to be the anniversary of the teenage girl’s death.
A local organisation called ‘Alor Asha Pathshala’ lit candles, formed a human chain, and held a discussion session, demanding that the death anniversary be declared as ‘anti-border killing day’.
Nuru lamented that he had arranged the Milad and Doa with his meagre resources, while no government agency had cared even to enquire.
He had been to India some time back to depose before a BSF court in a retrial of the accused in the killing.
“I have only one wish – the hanging of BSF guard Amiya Ghosh,” he said.
In 2001, Felani’s body had lain entangled in the fence for a long time after she had been killed, triggering a storm of worldwide condemnation.
The BSF decided to initiate a trial under mounting pressure human-rights groups.
But Felani’s father rejected the verdict and appealed to the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, demanding punishment for those involved in Felani’s killing along with compensation.
A retrial is currently on, but Nuru has a few questions about the process.
“A retrial has started after many appeals. But there is a lot of hesitation about calling witnesses. The court has been closed for a long period for the second time on flimsy grounds.”
Kurigram Public Prosecutor Abraham Lincoln, who accompanied Nuru to India, said BSF Havildar Amiya Ghosh had admitted to his crime and the evidence and witnesses already provided were good enough for a favourable judgment.
Court proceedings, which were adjourned on Nov 20, will resume again on Mar 25, said Lincoln.
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