Two Indian nationals from Assam are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh after allegedly being shot by personnel of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) near the Kurigram border. The incident has triggered concern on both sides of the border, with family members and community organizations demanding an investigation.
The development was confirmed on Monday by Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Detective Branch) Sanatan Chakraborty.
The injured men have been identified as 35-year-old Ismail Hossain and 39-year-old Khwaja Abdul Alim, residents of Bara Balu village in South Salmara-Mankachar district of Assam. Both are currently receiving treatment in the Surgery Department of Ward No. 15 at Rangpur Medical College Hospital under police guard.
According to statements given by the injured men, the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon while they were transporting cattle in the Narayanpur border area of Assam. They alleged that BSF personnel mistook them for Bangladeshi nationals and opened fire using shotguns and explosive devices, leaving them seriously injured. The victims further claimed that they were later abandoned in a remote char area along the border.
Ismail Hossain alleged that BSF personnel first detained his brother Abdul Alim and shot him after identifying him as a Bangladeshi citizen. He claimed that when he informed the personnel that they were Indian nationals, he too was shot after being suspected of being Bangladeshi. Both men suffered severe injuries.
The injured men said they were later found by a group of Bangladeshi fishermen, who rescued them and arranged medical treatment at a private hospital in Rangpur at their own expense. After receiving information about the incident, police transferred them to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Deputy Commissioner Sanatan Chakraborty said the matter had been reported to higher authorities. He added that cases had been filed against the two men on charges of illegal entry into Bangladesh and that further decisions would be taken after a full investigation once they recovered.
Rangpur Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Ashikur Rahman confirmed that both patients were being provided with all necessary medical care.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Mahbub Ul Haque, commanding officer of the Kurigram-22 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion, said the force had no information regarding any shooting incident along the border, although patrols in the area had been intensified.
Ismail Hossain’s brother, Asmat Ali, said the family had been in contact with Sukchar Police Station in Assam. According to him, communication has been established with Bangladeshi authorities through district officials, and a flag meeting is expected to be held this week to facilitate the handover of the injured men to Indian authorities.
The families of the injured men have alleged that BSF personnel have recently increased operations against cattle herders and villagers in the border region, including chasing residents and using explosive devices to intimidate them. The All Minority Students’ Union (AMSU) has condemned the incident and demanded action against any personnel found responsible, arguing that Indian citizens should not be subjected to such treatment on suspicion of being Bangladeshis.
However, officials of the BSF’s Guwahati Frontier have not issued any public response to the allegations. Attempts to seek comments from BSF Director General Praveen Kumar also reportedly did not receive a response.