Gayebana janaza held in protest at border killing

Funeral prayers were held at Dhaka University on Saturday to protest against killing of Bangladeshis along borders with India while different political parties continued their protest against such killings.

At least 11 Bangladeshis were killed on the border by Indian Border Security Force personnel in January, according to the rights organisations and local representatives.

New Age correspondent at Dhaka University reported that the funeral prayers without bodies, better known as gayebana janaza, were held on the campus protesting indiscriminate border killing of Bangladeshis by Indian BSF.

Protesters under the banner of Bangladesher Nagarikbrinda joined the special funeral prayers on Saturday afternoon in front of Raju memorial monument on the campus.

The prayers were led by Akram Hossain, a fourth year student of sociology at Dhaka University and also an activist of Bangladesh General Students Right Protection Council.

Meanwhile, a master’s student of marketing at Dhaka University Nasir Abdullah began sit-in at Raju sculpture protesting at the border killing. Nasir said that he would continue the sit in until government pressurises their Indian counterpart to stop the killings immediately.

A master’s student of geography at Janagirnagar University Ariful Islam also joined Nasir in the sit-in in the evening. He initially began sit-in in front of National Press Club in Dhaka and later moved to Raju Memorial Monument.  

Addressing the crowd at the funeral prayers, protesters asked the government to take immediate steps to bring an end to border killings and demanded justice for the victims. 

BRAC University teacher Khandaker Muhammad Abdur Raquib said, ‘From 2001 to 2019, 1,185 Bangladeshis were killed by BSF. The BSF also injured 1,118 and abducted 1,401 people.’

‘India is implementing “shoot-to-kill” policy on Bangladesh-India border. Following the killings, they often justify their acts in tagging Bangladeshis as smugglers. Ironically many of the Bangladeshi officials ratify the BSF’s claim,’ said Abdur Raquib.

‘We ask the Bangladesh government to take necessary action, to raise the issue in international domain, negotiate boldly with the Indian state,’ he said.

Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon in a programme in Rangpur said both Bangladesh and Indian governments agreed that the border killing was not acceptable and the step should be taken to resolve it.

The Jamiat Ulama-e-Islami Bangladesh secretary general Nur Hossain Kashemi in a statement said that the BSF has crossed the limits of their all atrocities and they could show their audacity due to Bangladesh’s capitulated foreign policy towards India.

Socialist Party of Bangladesh from a rally called on the foreign ministry to stand strong to stop killing of Bangladeshis by BSF.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net