BSF picks up one

Indian border guards picked up a farmer while he was irrigating his tobacco field near Bonchowki border in Hatibandha upazila of the district yesterday.

The Bangladeshi farmer was identified as Maminul Islam, 25, son of Usuf Ali of the  village.

The incident occurred when members of the Border Security Force (BSF) of Dhumerkhata camp under 100 BSF Battalion at Sitai Police Station in Cooch Behar of India were patrolling.

Local people said BSF picked up Maminul while he was irrigating the tobacco field near the no-man's land around 9:30am. Many others, however, said Maminul is involved with cattle smuggling and he was caught when he was crossing the border for bringing Indian cattle.

"We live in border area but I and my son were never involved with smuggling," said Maminul's father Usuf Ali. "We don't know how is my son in the BSF camp and we fear as BSF tortures Bangladeshis there brutally," he said, adding that they informed the matter to BGB men at Bonchowki camp.

Commander of BGB 15 Battalion's Bonchowki BOP camp Shamsul Islam said he has nothing to say in this regard and their commanding officer will say about it to media.

Commanding Officer (CO) of Lalmonirhat BGB 15 Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Bazlur Rahman Hayati didn't answer the phone despite repeated attempts yesterday due to reasons unknown.