Gazaria (Munshiganj) Correspondent
Terrorists fired nearly fifty rounds in two rounds at local residents in Gazaria, Munshiganj, for obstructing them while illegally extracting sand from the riverbank. One person was injured after jumping from a boat in the incident. A dredger was seized by locals. The incident took place on the banks of the Meghna River adjacent to the Shonani Power Plant in the upazila at around 11:45 am on Thursday (February 27). The injured person is Palash (35). He is said to be the son of Shah Alam of Sholaani village in Imampur union of Gazaria upazila. Injured Palash, an eyewitness to the incident, said that although there is a legal sand pit on the Meghna River adjacent to Sholani village in Imampur Union, they come to the riverbank with a dredger in the evening. More than a hundred bighas of land have already disappeared into the riverbed due to illegal sand mining. On Thursday (September 27) at around 12:45 am, they were using several dredgers to extract sand from the banks of the Meghna River adjacent to the Sholani Power Plant. At that time, a few identified terrorists in the area, including Mannan, Lalu, Saikat, Babu, Amjad, were practicing with an engine-powered trawler. When local people tried to stop them, they started shooting at the locals. During this time, they fired about 17 rounds. I jumped from the boat into the river to escape the bullets and was injured. Later, when the local people blocked the terrorists, another group of terrorists came with a trawler and fired 30-35 rounds at the locals, rescuing the blocked terrorists. At that time, the agitated crowd seized a dredger named ‘Anas bin Zubayer Dredging Project’. Another witness, Kausar Hossain, said, “After the first round of firing, an announcement was made over the loudspeaker of the local mosque and the locals gathered on the river bank.” Local people blocked the terrorists from a dredger. At that time, even though the police arrived at the scene, their activities were not noticed. Shortly after this incident, a group of terrorists arrived in another engine-powered trawler and, shooting in a film style, freed the blocked terrorists. Another witness, Mohammad Uthan, said, “The terrorists have been conducting armed exercises in this area of the river for a long time. Today, they fired about fifty rounds at the locals in a film style. I demand the arrest of the gunmen as soon as possible.” Regarding the matter, Md. Anwar Alam Azad, Officer-in-Charge of Gazaria Police Station, said, “We have received the truth about the incident of firing aimed at the residents of the area. Several people have informed me about the matter.” “I have reported the matter to the naval police. The police are trying to arrest those involved in this incident.” Gazaria Upazila Executive Officer Md. Ashraful Alam’s mobile phone was called several times to get his opinion on the matter, but he did not receive it. Regarding the matter, Alamgir Hossain, Superintendent of Police of Narayanganj region of the Naval Police, said, “I am not aware of the matter. You were the first to inform me. I am investigating.”