Procession, rally against BSF’s border killings held in Lalmonirhat

A procession carrying a symbolic dead body on shoulders was held in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat, demanding an end to border killings.

The procession, led by Md Hanif, better known as Hanif Bangladeshi for his protests against border killings, paraded the main road of the upazila town, starting from the Upazila Parishad intersection around 10 am.

Expressing solidarity with Hanif Bangladeshi, Sadiqul Islam and Nurunbi Mia of Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram, NU Ahmed of Ishwarganj upazila of Mymensingh, Sourav Hossain Belal of Kathalia upazila of Jhalakathi and Arif Hossain of Begumganj upazila of Noakhali participated in the procession.

Addressing a rally followed by the procession, Hanif Bangladeshi alleged that neighbouring countries India and Myanmar have been committing acts of aggression against Bangladesh.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has gunned down many Bangladeshis along the border, he said, while Myanmar sent 1.2 million Rohingyas to Bangladesh after torturing them and two Bangladeshis have been killed by Myanmar mortar shells recently.

Questioning why the smugglers are killed and not caught and brought to justice, Hanif Bangladeshi also alleged that the countries pass off Bangladeshis as cattle smugglers after killing them along the border.

On February 17, the first procession with a symbolic dead body on shoulders was held in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar. Later, it was announced that such a procession would be held at bordering districts and upazilas across the country.