200 eminent citizens urge UN to address border killings by Indian BSF

A group of concerned Bangladeshi citizens and activists from the Network for Democratic Bangladesh (Europe) has sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressing outrage over the systematic killings of Bangladeshi nationals by India's Border Security Force (BSF).

The appeal, signed by over 200 people, including Ahmed Nadir, Rahat Mustafiz, Ahmedur Chowdhury, Supriti Dhar, Nasrin Khandoker among others highlights the continued loss of life at the Bangladesh-India border, citing the notorious case of Felani Khatun, a 15-year-old Bangladeshi girl who was shot dead and left hanging on barbed wire by the BSF. 

Despite international condemnation of Felani's murder, the killings have not stopped, the letter notes.

"Just last week, on 9 September, we are grieved to report the violent death of Jayanta Kumar Singha, also aged 15, another innocent life taken by barbaric Indian forces," the letter reads, adding that this incident is part of a growing list of border killings that includes the recent deaths of Shorna Das,13 and Abdullah, 35.

According to the Law and Arbitration Center (ASK), 31 Bangladeshis were killed by the BSF in 2023, following the deaths of 18 in 2021 and 23 in 2022. 

Over the 11 years from 2009 to 2020, a total of 522 Bangladeshi nationals reportedly died as a result of BSF actions.

The letter also points out that these killings persisted even during the COVID-19 pandemic, which further raises concerns about India's approach to border control. 

"Neither the Indian Penal Code nor any international law permits the shooting or killing of alleged smugglers at will," the letter asserts, calling for proper arrests and prosecutions instead of extrajudicial killings.

The appeal draws attention to the lack of adherence to bilateral agreements between India and Bangladesh, including the Joint Guidelines for border authorities established in 1975 and the Coordinated Border Management Plan of 2011. 

The letter mentions Article 8(i) of the 1975 guidelines, which urges border forces to avoid using firearms unless necessary for self-defence. However, the signatories argue that many victims were unarmed or lightly armed and were shot while fleeing.

A report by Human Rights Watch, titled "Trigger Happy: Excessive Use of Force by Indian Troops at the Bangladesh Border," is cited in the letter, revealing that BSF personnel often used excessive force without justification. 

"At no point did the investigations reveal the recovery of lethal weapons that would justify such excessive force in self-defence," the letter claims, emphasising that even teenage girls like Felani posed no threat to heavily armed BSF soldiers.

The letter concludes by urging the international community, particularly organisations like the United Nations and the European Parliament, to condemn these actions and hold India accountable for these human rights violations. 

"The silence surrounding these killings must be shattered. The world cannot afford to ignore the blood being shed at our borders," the appeal stresses, calling for immediate diplomatic action to end the brutality.