13 injured in Satkhira clash over control of government canal

At least 13 people, including women, were injured in a clash over control of a government canal in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira today (5 June).

The incident took place in the Sankranti Canal area of Khutikata-Kathalbariya village in the morning.

Confirming the incident, Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khaledur Rahman said several people were injured in the clash over control of the government canal.

He added that police had been deployed after tensions escalated between the two sides at the hospital.

The clash reportedly began when Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatrashibir activists attempted to catch fish in the government-owned Sankranti Canal, which is under the control of Kashi Mari Union Parishad’s Ward-2 member Azharul Islam.

The injured include UP member Azharul Islam, 33, BNP leader Ashraf Hossain, 60, BNP activist Kabir Hossain, 26, Shibir activists Abdullah Mamun Sad, 32, and Arafat Hossain, 27, Akhtar Hossain, 26, Najma Khatun, 22, Momin Morol, 65, and Laila Begum, 65. The injured were admitted to Shyamnagar Upazila Health Complex and Satkhira Medical College Hospital.

Eyewitnesses said more than 50 men, led by Jamaat leader Shahin Hossain, began catching fish in the canal using nets. At that time, 30 to 35 men, led by local UP member Azharul, obstructed them, triggering a clash between the two groups.

According to witnesses, after the injured were taken to the upazila health complex, some agitated BNP activists chased and assaulted Shibir activist Abdullah Mamun Sad on the road.

Jamaat leader Shahin Hossain claimed that the canal lease expired at the end of the Bengali month of Chaitra and that, despite not receiving a renewed lease, Azharul continued fish farming there.

He alleged that BNP activists led by Azharul attacked local poor residents who had gone to catch fish in the canal and claimed that four of their activists were injured. He further alleged that BNP activists attacked Abdullah Sad after he was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Rejecting the allegation, Azharul said he had applied for a lease renewal and had stocked fish in the canal earlier. He claimed Jamaat activists led by Shahin attacked them with rods, shovels and machetes, leaving nine of their people injured.

Shyamnagar upazila BNP former convener Solaiman Kabir said local BNP leaders identified Azharul as a BNP supporter. He alleged that Jamaat activists attacked BNP activists after being prevented from catching fish in the leased canal.

Physician Shakir Hossain of the health complex said two injured persons were referred to Satkhira Medical College Hospital due to continued bleeding from sharp-weapon injuries.