BSF denies hand in Awami League leader’s death near Meghalaya border, says body found in Bangladesh

Shillong, Aug 25: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday denied reports of a senior Awami League member of Bangladesh being killed by the BSF in Meghalaya sector, calling it a ‘blatant lie’ being circulated by vested interest groups.

Bangladesh media outlets have reported that Ishaque Ali Khan Panna, former General Secretary of Chhatra League (student wing) of Awami League, was probably killed by the BSF or died due to a heart attack, when he was sneaking into India.

A senior BSF official said that this couldn’t have been further from the truth. “The body was found inside Bangladesh, which is far away from the Dawki border,” the official said.

Bangladesh media has reported that Panna was trying to sneak into India and climbing the hills to reach Shillong. But during his ascent he probably died due to a heart attack. The reports also said Panna could have been killed by the BSF, quoting anonymous sources.

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However, the fact is Jamaat-e-Islami cadres are hunting down Awami League functionaries inside Bangladesh. Many have gone into hiding or have fled. Panna was one of them. The circumstances that led to his death remain sketchy.

Sources said Panna and one of his acquaintances, (retired) Justice of Bangladesh Supreme Court, Shamsuddin Manik fled together and reached close to the Indian border with the help of a handler.

But the handler betrayed the duo and they were found and lynched either by the aggressive Jamaat-e-Islami cadres or the Bangladeshi villagers. Justice (retd) Manik was reportedly nabbed by the Border Guard Bangladesh and is now in judicial custody in Dhaka.

Justice (retd) Manik had defended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in TV debates during the student protest. He is, therefore, now considered as the enemy of the state in Bangladesh, sources added.

Panna, on the other hand, was a senior Awami League cadre who also owns an insurance company in Bangladesh. He held several important positions in the Awami League over the years.

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