Fourteen Years On, Felani’s Family Still Seeks For Justice

Fourteen years have passed since the tragic killing of 15-year-old Felani Khatun, yet her family continues to wait for justice. Speaking with a voice choked with emotion, Felani’s father, Nurul Islam, said, “We have approached courts in both India and Bangladesh countless times, but justice remains elusive. Whatever government comes to power, I wish for Felani’s murder to be properly addressed first. I cannot rest in peace without seeing justice served.”

On 7 January 2011, Felani was fatally shot by Amiy Ghosh, a member of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), while attempting to cross the barbed-wire border at Anantapur in Fulbari Upazila, Kurigram, alongside her father. Her body remained suspended in the fence for five hours, sparking widespread coverage in international media and drawing attention to cross-border human rights issues.

Nurul Islam recounted, “Our family had travelled to India in search of work. As Felani’s marriage had been arranged, we were returning home when this horrific incident occurred at the border.”

Felani’s mother, Jahanara Begum, expressed her enduring grief: “The BSF killed my daughter and left a void in our hearts. Fourteen years have passed, yet we have received no justice. I still hold hope that one day the truth will prevail and those responsible will be held accountable.”

The legal proceedings have been fraught with delays. On 13 August 2013, the BSF’s special court in Cooch Behar, India, initiated trial proceedings. However, on 6 September 2013, the accused, Amiy Ghosh, was acquitted. When the case was reopened on 22 September 2014, following objections from the Bangladesh Border Guard, Ghosh was again acquitted.

In 2015, on 14 July, Nurul Islam filed a writ petition in the Indian High Court through the human rights organisation ‘Masum’. Despite multiple hearings, the case remains unresolved.

Felani, the eldest of eight children born to Nurul Islam and Jahanara Begum in 1996, was living with her family in India at the time. She was returning home for her arranged marriage when her life was tragically cut short.

Key Details of Felani Khatun Case

The Felani case remains a haunting reminder of cross-border violence and the prolonged struggle for justice. For 14 long years, her family has lived with grief and uncertainty, holding onto hope that accountability will finally be realised.