Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Kamal Rony, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-47, stated that the Bangladeshi youth Shanto, who was shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on December 5, was killed inside Indian territory, not at the border. Speaking at a winter clothing distribution event in Kushtia, he said Shanto had illegally entered India and allegedly attempted to attack BSF personnel, prompting them to fire in self-defense.

The BGB officer emphasized that the incident should not be termed a ‘border killing,’ arguing that it occurred beyond the zero line. He added that BGB has been working to prevent illegal crossings and smuggling through increased patrols and checkpoints. According to Rony, 99 percent of border crossing attempts are successfully prevented.

The incident has reignited debate over border security and accountability between Bangladesh and India. Shanto’s body was returned eight days later following a flag meeting between the two forces. BGB maintains that it remains vigilant to prevent similar incidents and ensure civilian safety along the Kushtia-Meherpur frontier.