At least seven farmers were shot and wounded on Thursday during a protest against illegal extraction of sand from the Sangu River at Satkania of Chattogram allegedly by a local politician and his supporters.
The wounded - Abdul Malek (50), Md. Nurul Hasan (50), Fayez Ahmed (72), Abu Taher (38), Md. Kausar (28), Ruhul Amin (60) and Md. Manik (20)- have been taken to hospital for treatment, police said.
Locals and the victims blamed the attack on Ruhullah Chowdhury, son of the former central leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Muminul Haque Chowdhury, reports UNB.
Confirming the information, Alauddin Talukder, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital, said the wounded were brought to the hospital's emergency department around 12 noon.
“They are undergoing treatment in the surgery ward. Among them, the condition of Nurul Hasan is critical,|" he added.
Mamunur Rashid, an eyewitness said Ruhullah has been illegally extracting sand from the river with a dredger for a long time.
Farmers got angry and protested after Ruhullah’s men started dumping the sand on their farming lands preventing cultivation and harming their livelihood, locals said.
They said the illegal sand miner never paid heed to the complaint and protest.
On September 12 the affected farmers lodged a complaint with the Chattogram district administration.
On receiving the complaint the assistant commissioner (land) of Satkania Upazila was supposed to visit the spot today.
Ahead of the inspection, when the farmers gathered at the spot at noon, a group of miscreants led by Ruhullah indiscriminately opened fire at them, alleged Mamunur who claimed to have witnessed the attack.
When contacted by UNB. Ruhullah denied the allegations.
‘These allegations are part of a propaganda campaign launched against me ahead of the upcoming UP elections,” he said.
Satkania Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Anwar Hossain said police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Further actions will be taken after investigation.