Two activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were killed and at least 15 others injured in a violent clash over fishing at a government-owned pond in Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila on Monday morning.
The deceased were identified as Abdus Salam, 60, son of late Moydan Ali, and Ismail Hossain, 70, son of late Monsher Ali, both are residents of Goalpara village in the upazila.
According to locals, the dispute involved a five-bigha government pond in Gopalpara village, which had long been a source of conflict between Asmat Ali, 50, alleged supporter of activities banned Awami League, and Abu Bakkar Siddique, 48, general secretary of BNP’s Dhamainagar union’s Ward No. 2 unit.
Asmat Ali had been operating the pond under lease for a local mosque for several years, while Siddique obtained a new three-year lease after August 5 last year. Tensions had been mounting since then.
The clash occurred Monday morning when Siddique’s supporters set fishing nets in the pond, which Asmat Ali’s men tried to stop. Both sides engaged in violent clashes using sharp arms, axes, machetes and sticks, causing at least eleven individuals to be seriously injured.
Being informed, police rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control and took the injured to Sirajganj General Hospital and Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College for treatment.
The duo, Abdus Salam, died at Sirajganj General Hospital, while Ismail Hossain succumbed to injuries at Bogura Medical College Hospital.
BNP’s Raiganj upazila unit president Shamsul Alam said the killings resulted from longstanding land disputes and political retaliation.
He also claimed timely medical attention could have saved at least one life.
However, Sirajganj General Hospital in charge Dr Akikun Nahar rejected allegations of negligence, stating the patient’s condition was critical upon arrival due to severe bleeding.
District Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Saiful Islam Khan said the clash stemmed from an ongoing dispute over pond ownership and leasing.
Raiganj Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Mohammad Golam Kibria confirmed the incident and said that a case is underway and that arrests are in progress.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Masud Rana and Raiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Abdul Khalek Patwari stated that the pond is government-owned and no official lease has been granted. A ground-level investigation will confirm its status once the situation stabilises.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Aminul Islam said the administration is closely monitoring the incident.
It is said that the same pond was the site of a fatal clash in 2007. Local residents and victims’ families have demanded an impartial investigation and swift legal action against the perpetrators to prevent further fatalities over government-owned resources.
AM
