Fourteen years after the heart-wrenching killing of teenager Felani Khatun by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the Kurigram border, her family has found a glimmer of hope in the most unexpected way, but now her younger brother has joined the ranks of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Arfan Hossain, 21, stepped into this chapter of pride and service after successfully clearing the BGB recruitment test organised by the 15th Battalion in Lalmonirhat on February 23 this year. 

On Thursday, the battalion’s commanding officer, Lt Col Mehedi Imam, handed Arfan his appointment letter in a solemn ceremony at the headquarters, marking a moment that blends personal triumph with national service.

A BGB official noted that the battalion has always stood steadfastly by Felani’s family. 
“Arfan will begin his official training on September 19. We hope he will complete training successfully and serve the country as a proud member of BGB,” he said. 

He also reaffirmed the force’s vigilance along the border to ensure that tragedies like Felani’s killing never recur.

The memory of Felani, who was only 15 when she was shot by BSF on January 7, 2011, remains etched in the nation’s conscience. 

Her body, left dangling on the barbed-wire fence along the Kurigram-Cooch Behar border, had sparked outrage across Bangladesh and beyond.

For Arfan and his family, this moment is more than an appointment—it is a tribute to Felani’s memory, a testament to resilience, and a reaffirmation of hope that even in the shadow of past sorrow, courage and commitment can light the way forward.