Conflict: | 2019 Bangladesh-Indian Border Clash |
Place: | Bangladesh-Indian Border (Kakmarichar, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India) |
Partof: | Deaths along the Bangladesh–India border |
Date: | 17 October 2019 |
Territory: | Status quo ante bellum |
Result: | Indian troops retreat from the area |
Combatant1: | Bangladesh |
Combatant2: | India |
Units1: | Border Guard Bangladesh |
Units2: | BSF 117th Battalion |
Casualties1: | None |
Casualties2: | 1 killed, 1 injured[1] [2] [3] [4] |
The 2019 Bangladesh-Indian border clash was an armed skirmish between Bangladesh and India in October 2019, the skirmish took place between troops of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) on the border between the two countries.
The clash happened on 17 October 2019.[5] when a BGB personnel opened from his AK-47 rifle during a 'flag meeting' along the international border of the two countries in West Bengal.[6]
when the BGB personnel held three Indian fishermen who were allowed by the BSF to fish within the International Border, that runs through the middle of the 3-km-wide Padma river.
Soon four armed BSF men, including one in uniform, intruded 650 yards inside Bangladeshi territory with a speedboat to take away the detained fisherman.[7]
However, the BGB team told the BSF personnel that the issue could be settled through a flag meeting in line with the practice and also told them that since they too intruded into Bangladeshi territory, they would be handed over to the authorities after the proposed meeting.
A BGB team then allowed two fishermen to go and inform the BSF that the third person has been held by them and that was when the BSF post commander of the 117th Battalion, a sub-inspector, took a six-member party on a motor-boat to resolve the issue.[8]
Then, A BGB Jawan fired from behind and shot the Indian troops, the remainder BSF jawans, later fled from the area to the Indian side once again.
The firing by the BGB jawan killed a BSF jawan and Injured one.[9] [10] [11] [12] The situation left BSF furious, who opened fire and started to re-enter Indian territory.
"The BGB patrol team fired gunshots in self-defence amid gunfire by the BSF men," the statement said, adding that it was revealed later at a commander-level flag meeting that a BSF member was killed and another injured during the fire exchanges.
Meanwhile, Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal termed the incident "unexpected", but said the unwanted episode took place as four armed BSF men intruded more than 500 yards inside Bangladeshi territory.