Today marks the 14th anniversary of the tragic killing of Felani Khatun, a teenage girl shot dead by India's Border Security Force (BSF) at the Anantapur border in Kurigram on January 7, 2011.
Felani’s father, Nurul Islam, originally from Ramkhana Union in Kurigram, had been living in India's Bongaigaon area for work. Arrangements were made for Felani's marriage in Bangladesh, prompting their decision to return.
On January 7, 2011, at dawn, Nurul Islam successfully crossed the border with the help of a local guide. As Felani attempted to climb over the barbed wire, she was shot by BSF personnel. For 30 minutes, she writhed in pain before succumbing to her injuries, her lifeless body hanging on the fence for hours.
Felani's body was left hanging on the barbed wire for more than four and a half hours, sparking widespread condemnation from global human rights organizations and media outlets.
Despite the uproar, the BSF’s special court twice acquitted the accused BSF member, Amiya Ghosh. Rejecting the verdict, Felani's family, with the assistance of the Indian human rights organization Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), filed a petition in the Indian Supreme Court.
Following international criticism, the BSF launched a trial in its General Security Forces Court in 2013. Felani’s father and uncle testified as witnesses. However, on September 6 of that year, the court acquitted Amiya Ghosh. A retrial in 2014 also upheld the acquittal. MASUM subsequently filed a petition in the Indian Supreme Court in July 2015, but the case has faced repeated delays. The last scheduled hearing in March 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and no new date has been set. Even after 14 years, Felani's family has yet to see justice.
Felani's parents, Nurul Islam and Jahanara Begum, have expressed deep frustration and despair over the lack of progress. Nurul Islam said, "Fourteen years have passed, and we still haven’t seen justice for my daughter. The case in the Indian Supreme Court remains unresolved. I fear I may never witness justice in my lifetime."
Jahanara Begum echoed her husband's sentiment, criticizing the previous Awami League government for its inaction. She called on the current interim government to seek justice through international courts.
Advocate Fakhrul Islam, president of the Kurigram Nationalist Lawyers Forum, emphasized the importance of resolving the case swiftly. "This is a murder case, and ensuring justice is critical not just for Felani’s family but for the human rights situation in the region. A verdict in this case could serve as a milestone in reducing border killings," he said.
Local residents and human rights activists believe that a fair trial and justice for Felani could significantly deter such incidents in the future. As the years go by, the demand for justice grows louder, urging both nations to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
