Netrakona Correspondent
A clash has occurred between fishermen and locals in Khaliajuri. At least fifty people have been reported injured in the clash. During this time, more than a hundred vehicles were vandalized and set on fire. Police arrested 40 people from the scene to control the situation. The incident occurred on Saturday (March 8) morning at the ferry pier on the Dhanu River near Rasulpur village in the upazila. According to local people and police sources, for about a week, a group of people have been organizing a festival to loot fish from various leased water bodies in the haor areas of Khaliajuri and Madan upazilas of Netrokona. As per the previous announcement, thousands of people from Nandain, Gouripur, Ishwarganj in Mymensingh, Tarail in Kishoreganj, Netrokona Sadar, Atpara, Kendua, Madan and Khaliajuri upazilas have been gathering every day to loot fish from the leased beels of the haor. In the past week, fish poachers have looted fish from several leased lakes, including Nureshwar Lake in Madan Upazila, Kirtankala Lake, Kari Lake, Uchabaida Lake, Haila Lake in Khaliajuri Upazila. Such incidents are happening every day despite the administration’s restrictions. The lease value of the fish from the lakes where the thefts took place is around 40 million taka. Like other days, on Saturday morning, thousands of people gathered on the banks of the Dhanu River to loot the fish from the leased Kathaljan and Moragang rivers in Khaliajuri Upazila. Later, the fishermen tried to cross the Dhanui River by leaving more than a hundred pickup vans, auto-rickshaws, CNG, hand trolleys, and motorcycles as their means of transport near the Rasulpur ferry pier. At one point, a clash broke out between the fishermen and the people at the ferry pier. If local people participate in the conflict, a terrible situation arises. About fifty people on both sides were injured during this time. Later, angry locals vandalized and set fire to more than a hundred vehicles transporting fishermen. Upon receiving the information, the army and police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A unit of the fire service controlled the fire that broke out in the car. Local residents complain that fishermen insult them while crossing the Dhanu River by ferry. They started beating them up for protesting. At one point, the clash escalated to the point where thousands of people vandalized and looted shops at Rasulpur Ferry Ghat. Later, when people’s homes in Rasulpur village were attacked, the situation spiraled out of control. Later, angry locals vandalized and set fire to more than a hundred vehicles transporting the arriving fishermen. Several injured fishermen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We went to the banks of the Dhanu River to fish after receiving the news.” There were thousands of people there. Suddenly, clashes broke out. Later, local people gathered and started beating everyone with indigenous weapons. They vandalized our car and set it on fire. Dr. Nayan Ghosh, the on-duty physician at the emergency department of Madan Upazila Health Complex, said, “So far, 15-20 people have been treated at the hospital.” They were injured in a clash while fishing. It is not yet possible to identify all the patients together, hoping for a proper identification. Many patients are being taken away from the hospital after receiving first aid. Khaliajuri Police Station Duty Officer SI Tofazzal Hossain said that around 15-20 people have been treated at Khaliajuri Hospital so far. 50 people are detained at the police station. Khaliajuri Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Makbul Hossain confirmed the incident and said, “I am at the scene.” The situation is currently under control. Police are working to determine details about the vandalism and injuries. People are being detained from the scene and taken to the police station. It will take time to provide full information.