Jhalokathi, Oct 28 (V7N) – Seven people, including the Jhalokathi district fisheries officer, were injured when a group of attackers allegedly armed with machetes and sticks assaulted a fisheries department team returning from a drive to protect hilsa in the Sugandha River in Nalchity upazila early Tuesday.
The attack took place near Jangalia in the Kumarkhali area around dawn, when the attackers arrived in 12 engine-powered boats and intercepted the team. The injured were treated at Jhalokathi Sadar Hospital.
According to officials, the operation began at around 3:30am under the leadership of District Fisheries Officer Md Enamul Haque. The team used a speedboat and an engine-powered trawler to conduct the drive in the Sugandha River.
After completing the operation in the Nalchity section of the river, the team was returning when the attackers blocked their way and assaulted them with sticks and machetes. Senior Assistant Director Pranab Kumar Biswas was injured after falling from the speedboat during the attack.
The other injured were three Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) members—Havildar Abdur Rahim, Sepoy Sakib Hasan and Sepoy Selim Mia—as well as boatman Md Rezaul Karim, driver Md Mostafa Sikdar and office assistant Md Ramzan Ali Khalifa.
District Fisheries Officer Md Enamul Haque said the team had been returning after conducting a routine operation to protect hilsa when the attack occurred.
He said the attackers specifically targeted the driver and boatman, beat them and threatened them with machetes, warning them not to assist future fisheries enforcement drives. The boatmen were also allegedly forced to perform sit-ups while holding their ears as a form of humiliation and intimidation.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of fisheries officials and support staff involved in enforcing restrictions to protect hilsa in the river.
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