India regrets Felani killing

India yesterday regretted the killing of a teenage Bangladeshi girl on Phulbari border in Kurigram by its Border Security Force (BSF).

“Indian side expressed their sympathies and regrets at the recent killing of a minor girl at the border,” according to a joint press statement issued at the conclusion of the two-day Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between the home secretaries of the two countries at Hotel Sheraton in the capital.

Expressing sympathy, a 10-member Indian delegation, who attended the meeting, led by its Joint Secretary Shambhu Singh requested the Bangladesh government to create awareness among its people to follow the legal routes while crossing borders.

Delhi also requested Dhaka to restrict nighttime movement of its people in border areas.

BSF shot dead 15-year old Felani when she was returning home with her father from India through Phulbari border on January 7.

Earlier on Sunday, Dhaka lodged protest with India on the brutal killing of the innocent.

Joint Secretary Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, who led a 12-member Bangladesh delegation, said they had a fruitful discussion on all issues, including border killings.

The meeting discussed smuggling of arms and narcotic drugs, activities of extremists and terrorists, insurgency, trafficking of women and children, repatriation of prisoners, border fencing and immigration issues especially simplification of visa, according to the press statement.

“We hope, we would come to a consensus at the secretary-level meeting on these issues,” Kamal Uddin told reporters after signing a summary of the JWG meeting.

The summary was put forward to the home secretary-level talks, which began at the hotel at 3:00pm.

The Indian joint secretary declined to make any comment on the border killing issue, but hoped that the secretary level talks would take final decision on it.