At least 10 members of the River Police and Fisheries department were injured when some fishermen allegedly attacked them ahead of a drive to protect spawning Hilsa in the Meghna River in Matlab North Upazila of Chandpur.
The incident took place on Thursday night in the Amirabad area of the river.
Field Assistant Atikur Rahman from the Fisheries department later filed a case at Matlab north police station, accusing some 90 unidentified individuals.
The injured include Fisheries Office field assistants Mohammad Atikur Rahman and Mosharraf Hossain, speedboat driver Rony Mia, boatman Ali Akbar, the boatman’s assistants Abdul Sattar and Md Kawsar, and members of the Mohanpur River Police outpost, Imran Hossain, Md Russell, Kamal Hossain, and Jasim Uddin.
All 10 victims were admitted to the upazila health complex and are receiving treatment.
According to the Fisheries Office, witnesses, and police sources, the team was preparing to launch a drive to protect the ilish in the river around 8pm.
They were on a speedboat and an engine-powered boat when a trawler carrying around 100 fishermen allegedly approached them.
The fishermen attacked the team with bamboo sticks, bricks, and machetes, seriously injuring the 10 members. Hearing their screams for help, locals rushed to the scene, causing the attackers to flee.
Upazila Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das expressed concern, saying: "Despite the government providing each fisherman with 25 kilograms of rice under the VGF program, they continue to violate the ban on ilish fishing in the Meghna River. This attack was carried out with the intent to kill."
Matlab north police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rabiul Haque said that a case has been filed under charges of obstructing government work and assault.He added that investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being made to apprehend the attackers.
