Shots fired on farmers

At least seven people sustained shotgun pellet wounds as "men of a Water Development Board contractor" opened fire during a heated debate with farmers over keeping dredging machinery on their land in Satkania yesterday morning.

Locals alleged that Ruhullah Chowdhury, brother-in-law of Awami League lawmaker Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi (Chattogram-15, Satkania), led the attack in Tulatoli village of the upazila.

Ruhullah, son of a former Jamaat-e-Islami leader, however, reportedly refuted the allegation. According to locals, he introduces himself as the general secretary of Charati union unit of Bangabandhu Parishad.

The WDB has tasked the contractor with dredging the Sangu river to improve its navigability.

Villagers said the contractor's company, SS Dredger, kept dredging machinery on their agricultural land for months without their consent. The landowners, mostly farmers of the village, protested the move as it was disrupting farming. But the company allegedly did not pay heed to the protesters. Rather, it contacted local influential people to settle the matter.

On September 12, farmers submitted a memorandum to the Chattogram deputy commissioner demanding relocation of dredging machinery. Against this backdrop, the assistant commissioner (land) of the upazila was scheduled to visit the spot yesterday to discuss the issue with both sides, said local people.

When about 100 people, mostly farmers, gathered in the area around 10:30am, the "contractor's men" asked them to go away. As they refused to comply, the two sides got involved in a heated debate. At one stage, the "contractor's men", carrying firearms, chased the farmers and opened fire, leaving the seven injured, locals told this correspondent.

The seven were admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, said Assistant Sub-Inspector Alauddin Talukder of CMCH Police Camp.

They are: Abdul Malek, 50, Nurul Hasan, 51, Abu Taher, 38, Md Manik, 20, Fayez Ahmed, 62, Md Kawsar, 20, and Ruhul Amin, 60.

Doctors at the surgery ward of the hospital said all but Nurul Hasan was out of danger.

Speaking to The Daily Star, injured Taher said the contractor's company did not talk to them before keeping their dredging machinery on their land.

"We protested, but the company officials did not pay heed to us. They contacted some local influential people to use our land forcibly," he said.

Preferring anonymity, another injured alleged that yesterday's attack was led by Ruhullah.

Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Satkania Police Station, said police rushed to the spot upon receiving information and brought the situation under control.

Asked about Ruhullah's involvement in the incident, the OC said he received verbal complaints from some locals about it, but none filed any written complaint with police till yesterday evening.

"We are investigating the incident. Legal action will be taken against those involved in the incident," he said.

Fatema Tuz Johra, Satkania upazila nirbahi officer, said after the filing of the memorandum with the DC by farmers, she discussed the issue with both the contractor and locals on Wednesday.

"We expected that a solution would be reached following the talks, but an untoward incident took place today [Thursday]."

She said officials of the administration went to the spot after the incident occurred and instructed the authorities concerned to stop all activities regarding dredging of the Sangu until further orders.

Meanwhile, officials of SS Dredger refuted the allegation of their involvement in the firing incident.

Mehedi Hasan, site supervisor of the company, said: "We were not involved in the incident. We had only 15 to 20 workers at the site when the incident took place."

Asked about farmers' allegation about using their land forcibly, he said, "We are ready to pay the locals for using their land, but they did not pay heed to us. They said they would not let us keep the machineries on their land."

Tayan Kumar Tripura, executive engineer of Water Development Board in Chattogram, said they awarded the contract to SS Dredger for dredging the river and the deadline for completing the work is June 22, 2022.

"When we issue a work order to a company for dredging, we mention in the terms and conditions of the contract that the owners of the land, where soil and dredging machinery would be kept, will be given compensations," he said.

Instead of consulting landowners about paying them, the contractor's company got some local influential people involved in the matter, which led to yesterday's incident, said the executive engineer.

Despite several attempts, The Daily Star could not reach Ruhullah over the phone for comments as it was found switched off.

AL lawmaker Nadvi did not receive calls from this correspondent.