Dhaka has formally expressed utter frustration to New Delhi over the acquittal of a member of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) from the charges of killing Bangladeshi girl Felani Khatun.
In a formal communication, Bangladesh has expressed its hope that justice will prevail. A court of inquiry of the BSF has recently found the lone accused in the Felani killing case, Havilder Amiya Ghosh, not guilty, drawing widespread condemnations.
“We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government expressing our utter frustration over the acquittal of the BSF member,” a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told The Independent on Wednesday.
The note verbale was sent to the Indian External Affairs Ministry on Monday through Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, said the official, adding that a copy had also been forwarded to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
He also said that Bangladesh was looking into the legal aspects as to how it could be a party in an appeal against the verdict.
The 15-year old Felani was shot dead on January 7, 2011, while scaling over the barbed wire fences along with her father Nurul Islam at Anantapur border point in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram. She was returning home from India.
The picture of her body hanging at the top of the fence prompted huge outcry in Bangladesh and across the world as well.
Following pressure from the Bangladesh government and human rights organizations, the Indian authorities started the trial on August 13, current year, in Cooch Behar in which Felani’s father Nurul Islam testified.
Having heard the news of the acquittal of the accused BSF member, Nurul Islam rejected the verdict and vowed to take the matter to the International court.
In response to media reports on the Felani case, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka provided a clarification on Saturday (September 7).
“The trial of the case by a BSF Court of Inquiry was the first step of a quasi-judicial process. The due process of law, which has provision for appeal and review by the competent authority, will be followed. Justice will be delivered to those who are found guilty,” said a spokesperson.
-With The Independent input
