Fifteen years have passed since Felani Khatun, a 15-year-old girl from Kurigram, was shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) while crossing the India–Bangladesh border, yet her family continues to wait for justice. On January 7, 2011, Felani was killed near border pillar 947 while returning to Bangladesh with her father. Her body remained hanging on the barbed wire fence for more than four hours—an image that circulated globally and drew widespread condemnation.
Felani and her father, Nurul Islam, had been living in India for work and were returning home after her marriage was arranged. According to testimonies, Felani was shot by BSF member Amiya Ghosh while climbing the fence with a ladder. The case drew international attention, prompting a trial in a special BSF court in West Bengal in 2013. Despite testimonies from Felani’s father and uncle, the court acquitted Amiya Ghosh. A retrial in 2015 also resulted in acquittal.
Following the verdicts, Nurul Islam, along with Indian human rights activist Kirit Roy, filed a writ petition in India’s Supreme Court. Due to repeated delays, the petition remains unresolved. Nurul Islam says he has received no recent updates on the case and feels exhausted after years of pursuing justice, though he has not abandoned hope.
Felani’s family continues to live in financial hardship. Nurul Islam struggles to support and educate his remaining children, several of whom are currently in college. Felani’s mother, Jahanara Begum, says she has been waiting for justice for 15 years and hopes that whichever government comes to power will ensure accountability. She believes that justice for Felani could help prevent future border killings and spare other families similar grief.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 