The fishermen allegedly threw bricks and stones from their trawler, following which the River Police team opened fire indiscriminately, eyewitnesses said.
A fisherman was shot dead in the Meghna River in Barishal’s Hizla upazila on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Photo: TBS
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A fisherman was shot dead in the Meghna River in Barishal’s Hizla upazila on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Photo: TBS
A fisherman was shot dead in the Meghna River in Barishal’s Hizla upazila yesterday (29 October), with eyewitnesses alleging that River Police personnel opened fire on a group of fishermen.
The deceased was Akhtar Howlader, 40, son of Sultan Howlader of Char Memania village in Ward No 8 of Memania Union.
He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his chest.
Five others were also injured in the incident, according to local sources.
Police recovered the body from the river. No law enforcement agency has officially accepted responsibility for the shooting.
According to local sources, fishermen from Char Memania village went fishing in the Meghna on Wednesday night (28 October). As they were returning to shore yesterday morning after fishing throughout the night, a River Police speedboat intercepted their trawler near the Shaora Arakul fish landing station under Gaurabdi union.
The fishermen allegedly threw bricks and stones from their trawler, following which the River Police team opened fire indiscriminately, eyewitnesses said.
Abdul Bepari, a fisherman who witnessed the incident, said a confrontation broke out between the fishermen and River Police over the interception of Akhtar’s trawler.
Afsar Uddin, chairman of Memania Union Parishad, said several fishermen informed him that a man had been found with gunshot wounds in the river.
He went to the spot and helped rescue the injured fisherman. Police were later informed and took him to the upazila health complex, from where he was referred to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
However, Akhtar died on the way to the hospital, his family said.
His sister, Sathi Akhtar, said doctors at Hizla Upazila Health Complex had advised them to take her brother to Barishal immediately.
“My brother was shot and killed. Where will I seek justice? If we file a case, we will face further harassment. I will bury him today after receiving his body,” she said.
KM Mahfuzur Rahman, Hizla upazila fisheries officer, said his department had not conducted any operation in the river and that he does not know which agency was involved.
Solaiman Hossain, officer-in-charge of Hizla Police Station, said they are investigating the incident.
Hizla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Elias Sikder said he learned from various sources that a fisherman had been killed in a firing by the River Police.
He said the body is at the hospital but declined to provide further details.
Advocate Aminul Sohel said that if the fisherman committed any offence, he should have been dealt with under the existing law through the courts.
“Killing someone by shooting them is another offence,” he said, calling for a transparent investigation to establish who was responsible.
He added that if criminals were responsible for the shooting, law enforcement agencies had a duty to bring them to justice. If police were involved, the circumstances and reasons behind the shooting should be made public, he said.
Prof Gazi Zahid Hossain, president of SHUJAN Barishal, also called for a transparent investigation into the death.
He said the incident should be properly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.
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