Dhaka curbs movement of people at night near India border

DHAKA - Bangladesh has imposed restrictions on movement of people at night in areas along the 4,300-km border with India to avert what it calls deaths due to firing by the Indian border guards.

“Both BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) and the deputy commissioners of the districts concerned have been directed to restrict night-time movement in the border areas to avert killings by BSF,” Home Minister Sahara Khatun said.

Dhaka’s action followed a broad understanding reached with New Delhi in January when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart.

Officials have been asked to contact representatives from local communities to motivate people so that they did not move along the borders at night.

The BSF has allegedly killed over 910 Bangladeshis between 2000 and 2009. Most of the shootings usually take place in the dark of night, Bangladeshi media said quoting Odhikar, a non-government human rights body.

India, on its part, has restricted night-time movement and that has helped curb shooting incidents and deaths, New Age newspaper said.

Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said that the deputy commissioners in the bordering districts would take steps in a day or two to announce through loud-hailers that people’s movement had been restricted in the border areas at night time.

“If anyone comes out in the restricted areas at night time, they will do so at their own risk,” Sikder warned.