Gunfight over illegal hilsa fishing by Indians: One BSF man shot dead
To allow breeding of eggs, hilsha catching is now banned in Bangladesh for a certain period.
One Indian Border Security Force (BSF) member was dead on the Padma river in Rajshahi as tension flared regarding Indian fishermen illegally catching hilsha fish in the river.
Three Indian fishermen were catching hilsha with current nets in Padma crossing the Rajshahi border.
To check any catching of hilsha fish from the river, officials of Fisheries department along with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were conducting a drive against local fishermen, at the same time on Thursday.
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During the drive they found the Indian fishermen catching fish in Bangladesh waters – on a boat at the confluence of Padma and Baral rivers.
Next, the BGB detained one of them, but two others escaped and the escapee informed to the BSF.
Shortly, a 4-member BSF team of the 117th battalion illegally crossed into Bangladesh, at the mouth of Baral river, on a motor-boat.
As the BSF members arrived in the spot and tried to take away the detained fisherman, firing took place between two forces.
Although one of the BSF members were wearing uniforms, the rest were wearing half pants and undershirts.
As the BSF members, with arms, wanted to forcefully take the detained fisherman away, the BGB team told them that he would be handed over, through flag meeting.
The BGB also told the BSF members that they had entered Bangladesh illegally and they too would be handed over to the BSF through flag meeting.
This is when the BSF members panicked and forcefully tried to take the fisherman away and the BGB tried to stop them.
The BSF began hurling abuse at the BGB for making the arrest.
As the BGB protested such behaviour, the BSF became angry and opened fire, prompting the BGB to return fire in defence. At one point, the BSF men retreated and returned on their boat, with one member dead and one injured.
After the incident, a flag meeting was held at the border to calm the situation.
In the meeting, the BSF claimed that one of them was killed and another was injured during the firing that took place at the Charghat border in Rajshahi on Thursday.
Both the parties have agreed to investigate the exchange of gunfire between the two friendly neighbouring border forces while also agreeing to hold further flag meetings on the issue.
