Indian border authorities have returned the body of a Bangladeshi youth, who was shot dead by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the India-Bangladesh frontier in Moulvibazar, after a delay of nearly 38 hours.

The victim, identified as Pradeep Baidya, a daily wage labourer from Sharifpur Union in Kulaura upazila, was killed near Pillar No. 1852 of the international border in the Devipur area under Rangauti Gram Panchayat of Tripura's Unakoti district on Saturday evening (May 31) around 8:30 pm.

Indian officials handed over his body to Bangladeshi authorities at the Chatlapur Land Port in Kulaura upazila on Monday (June 2). 

Representatives of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), BSF, local police, journalists, public representatives, and family members of the deceased were present during the repatriation.

Local union parishad member Zainul Islam confirmed that Pradeep, who came from an extremely poor family, had no known links to smuggling or illegal cross-border activities. “He was an innocent civilian. The community has raised strong protests over his killing,” he told reporters.

Pradeep's elder brother, Jayant Baidya, accompanied officials to receive the body, which was handed over to Kulaura police before being released to the family following legal procedures.

Sudipto Shekhar Bhattacharya, Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Kulaura Police Station, said the body was returned by Indian police through official border channels and was handed over to the family after standard formalities.

Lt. Col. Zakaria, Commanding Officer of BGB 46 Sreemangal Battalion, said the force has formally lodged a protest with its Indian counterpart. “A flag meeting between BGB and BSF at the battalion level is expected within a day or two to address the incident,” he added.

SMS/