Felani's family yet to get justice

Although seven years have elapsed since the killing of Bangladeshi girl, Felani, by members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the border, justice has not been served to her family yet, says UNB.

Felani, who used to work as a domestic help in New Delhi, was shot to death by the BSF members while returning home crossing the barbed-wire fence along with her father along Anantapur border point in Kurigram district on 7 January, 2011.  

Later, BSF troops hanged her body on the barbed-wire fencing at the border. 

Felani's death triggered a huge global outcry as a picture of Felani's body, which was hanging from the barbed-wire upside down, went viral. The BSF men handed over the body a day after her killing.

Following the public criticism, BSF started investigation into the incident and submitted a charge-sheet against its constable Amiya Ghosh who shot the girl.

However, a special court constituted by the BSF had acquitted Amiya Ghosh of the charge on 19 August, 2013.

Later, in the wake of widespread criticism of the acquittal, BSF decided to revise the murder trial. However, another judicial court upheld the previous verdict and acquitted Amiya Ghosh again on 2 July, 2015.

Following this, Felani's father Nurul Islam with the help of human rights organisation Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court of India.

Later, Indian Supreme Court bench, headed by the chief justice, show-caused several bodies concerned, including the home ministry, in this regard.

"I'm still optimistic that I'll get justice from the Indian apex court," Felani's father said while talking to UNB.

Lawyer Abraham Lincoln, who stood for Felani during the BSF trial, also expressed the hope to get justice as the Indian apex court accepted the writ petition.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Ramkhala union parishad Abdul Alim Sarker demanded that 7 January be declared as the Border-Killing End Day.