DHAKA, Jan 7, 2025 (BSS) – Speakers at a protest rally today demanded justice for Felani killing, who was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) men on border, by 2025.

The protest rally, organized by the Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JNC), a civil society group in the country comprising intellectuals and professionals, was held at Shahbagh in the city today,  January 7 which was observed as Felani Day.

City unit organizers of the committee attended the rally and demanded justice for Felani's murder by 2025 to the interim government.

“We want justice for Felani’s murder by 2025. Was Felani hanging on the barbed wire of the border or was the entire Bangladesh hanging there?”, they raised the question at the time.

They urged the interim government to ensure justice for Felani killings. 

“We do not want to stand for Felani through such protests next year. We want quick trial of the culprits. Not only Felani, such killings on the border continued after that,” they added.

The speakers also demanded justice for the fascist Awami League government that spread Indian hegemony in the country.

They urged all to remain united against the Indian domination in this soil.

Speaking as the chief guest at the rally, JNC Member Secretary Akhter Hossain urged the government to take effective steps regarding border killings at the international level. 

He also called for exposing all unfair agreements that India made with Bangladesh and canceling any agreement that is unequal, unfair and against the interests of Bangladesh.

Felani Khatun, an adolescent Bangladeshi girl, was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) men on January 7, 2011 when she along with her father was reentering Bangladesh crossing the barbed wire fence at Anantapur-Dinhata frontier. 

The body dangled on the barbed wire for five hours.

The 14-year-old Felani was returning to Bangladesh with her father as her marriage was fixed in the country. Felani and her father were staying in India’s New Delhi where she used to work as a domestic worker.

While crossing the border, Felani’s dress got stuck in the barbed wire of the border. Being panic-stricken, she screamed and later BSF opened fire on her.

The soldiers of the BSF 181 Battalion's Chowdhuryhat camp were made responsible for the incident. The BSF filed a case against the members responsible for the incident in its own court.

The picture of Felani's hanging body on the barbed wire fence on the border was widely criticized by the international media and triggered an outcry along with raising questions on border security in the area.

The Bangladesh government and human rights organizations in both Bangladesh and India protested the Felani killing.