TDS Desk:

A student-led march towards Kurigram border with India started Thursday morning demanding justice for border killings by Indian security personnel and seeking an end to the killings.

Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which led last year’s July-August uprising, and Jatiya Nagorik Committee started the movement titled “March for Felani” from Kurigram’s College Mor intersection to press home their five-point demand.

Before starting the march, the participants observed a minute of silence in memory of all those killed along Indian border by India’s BSF, and those killed in the July-August uprising. During the march, the protesters would hold rallies and distribute leaflets seeking support for their cause.

They would also visit the house of border killing victim Felani, and offer prayers at her grave.

At least fourteen years ago, Felani went to India in search of work. In January 2011, she was shot and killed by BSF when returning from India illegally with the help of people smugglers. The photo of her still body dangling over the barbed wire fence along Indian border drew Bangladeshi and foreign outcry. Felani’s family is yet to get justice.

Through Thursday’s march, student activists would press home their five-point demand which also include outlining new Bangladeshi foreign policy to end historic subservience to India and ensure equitable ties, and banning use of lethal weapons by both sides’ border personnel to match India’s similar engagement agreement with China.