11 injured as two rival groups clash
At least 11 people were injured in a clash between two rival groups over taking control of an illegal sand station on the east end of Bangabandhu Bridge in Bhuapur upazila yesterday.
The injured were admitted to Bhuapur Upazila Health Complex. Of them, four were later referred to Tangail General Hospital for better treatment.
Quoting locals and witnesses, police said the clash took place between the supporters of Abdul Matin Sarkar, chairman of Nikrail union parishad (UP), and men of Noor Alam Mondol alias Nohu, a member of the UP, in Sirajkandi Bazar area that 11 people from both sides injured.
Being informed, police immediately went to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Officer in Charge of Bhuapur Police Station Rashidul Islam said there had been a longstanding rivalry between the two groups over taking control of the sand station.
Locals alleged that some influential people, having political clout, have been running the sand business centring at least 18 illegal sand stations stretching from Palshia to Jigatala on the east side of the bridge.
Although sand lifting is prohibited within six-kilometre radius of the bridge, some unscrupulous traders continue lifting sand illegally from the Jamuna river.
Recently the upazila administration launched separate mobile court drives in the two sand stations and fined two sand traders.
They also jailed one of the traders for seven days for lifting sand illegally from near the bridge.
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