Felani case: Revision trial from Monday

Our Correspondent, Kurigram: The revision trial of the Felani killing case will begin on Monday in the General Security Force Court of Indian Border Security Force (BSF)’ battalion headquarters in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India. Acting Director of Kurigram 45 BGB Battalion Major ATM Hemaetul Islam said on Friday that the Commandant VP Badla on behalf of 181 BSF Battalion had sent a letter to them that witnesses would be testified for revision trial on November 17. Accordingly, Nurul Islam, father of slain Felani, Acting Director of Kurigram 45 BGB Battalion Major ATM Hemaetul Islam and Public Prosecutor Advocate S.M. Abraham Lincoln will attend the court. On the other hand, BGB officials met Nural Islam in his house at Kolonotary village under Ramkhana unon in Nageswari upazila of Kurigram district on Friday and informed the matter.Earlier when they were going to India for giving testimony on September 26 and reached Barabari area under Lalmonirhat district, Commandant of 181 BSF Battalion VP Badla informed in a celle phone that the court had been adjourned. Consequently they returned home. “Indian government has issued our visas. We are ready to go to India on the fixed date,” government lawyer SM Abraham Lincoln said. On the other hand, a team of General Security Forces Court visited the spot near international main pillar No. 947 of Choudhuryhat frontier in India opposite to Anantapur border under Phulbari upazila in Kurigram district where Bangladeshi teen aged girl Felani was shot dead by BSF on January 7 in 2011. Felani’s father Nurul Islam said although he was frustrated with the judgment in the Felani killing, he did not give up the hope of justice. “I am ready to go to Coochbehar to give witness. BSF personnel shot dead my beloved daughter Felani in front of me. Although it is about four years since the date of occurrence, I did not forget the screaming of my daughter,” he said.Felani’s mother Jahanara Begum said on Friday that she was expecting justice. She regretted that her dead body hanged with barbed wire for four hours. However, the tragic killing drew widespread attention and sharp criticism from all over the world. The trial of the Felani killing was held in General Security Force court of 181 BSF Battalion headquarters in Coochbehar district in India on August 13 in 2013. Felani’s father Nrul Islam and maternal uncle Abdul Hanif testified in the court. After 17 days of the trial, the court acquitted the BSF constable Amiyo Ghosh from the charge. The parents of Felani along with the people of Bangladesh rejected the judgment.