The charred body of a Bangladeshi man, reportedly burned with acid, was recovered from the River Padma along Masudpur border of Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj on Saturday, triggering fresh outrage over alleged cross-border violence by India鈥檚 Border Security Force.
The deceased, Shafiqul Islam Shafiq, was the son of freedom fighter Serajul Islam and a resident of village Hotatpara under Monakasha union.
His body was found floating near the Batasir intersection of Paka union in the afternoon, with signs of severe torture, according to local people and family members.
Shafiq鈥檚 brother-in-law, Samir Uddin 鈥� also a member of Monakasha Union Parishad 鈥� said that Shafiq and another man named Selim had crossed the border into India on Thursday night to bring back cattle. Both went missing shortly afterward.
鈥榃e found Shafiq鈥檚 body floating in the river, horribly disfigured by acid. Several teeth were broken and there were visible blood marks around his throat. The injuries suggest brutal torture,鈥� Samir told 抖阴精品.
Local residents alleged that the BSF was responsible for the killing.
鈥楤SF members are changing their tactics. Instead of shooting, they now torture people to death and dump the bodies in the river to erase evidence,鈥� said a villager who requested anonymity.
Lieutenant Colonel Fahad Mahmud Rinku, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh Battalion-53, confirmed that there were visible injury marks in the body, but the exact cause of death could not be determined until the post-mortem report was available.
鈥榃e are in touch with the BSF, but they have denied any involvement. The victim鈥檚 family has not yet lodged a formal complaint,鈥� he said.
This is the second such incident in less than a week.
On Monday, local residents recovered the body of another cattle trader, Soiabur Ali, from the River Padma at Fultala Ghat in Godagari upazila.
According to the family members, Soiabur, from village Dashrashia of Shibganj upazila, had crossed the border into India along with a companion, Ruhul Ali, to smuggle cattle.
His body bore multiple stab wounds. Villagers believe that he was tortured to death after being captured near the Monoharpur border by BSF personnel. Ruhul remains missing.
