At least 20 people were injured in Shantiganj upazila on Wednesday afternoon following a hour-long clash between a waterbody leaseholder’s men and local fishermen with triggered by an official drive against illegal fishing nets.
The conflict erupted in Thalerband village under Shimulbak Union near the Banua-Kaiya Group waterbody after the Shantiganj Upazila administration and Fisheries Department seized approximately 100 meters of banned "ring nets" and monofilament gill nets.
Tensions escalated when local fishermen requested the return of the seized nets, claiming they were fishing outside the leased jalmahal zone. Local fishermen alleged that men representing leaseholder Golam Amin intervened and attacked them with weapons with injuring 10 to 12 fishermen and seizing around 10 boats and hundreds of nets.
Conversely Golam Amin denied the allegations also claiming his group was attacked first by local fishermen armed with spears and machetes, leaving 9 to 10 of his men injured. He asserted that local fishermen routinely use banned nets within his leased boundaries, causing severe financial losses.
Shantiganj Upazila Fisheries Officer Kamrul Hasan stated that officials seized the illegal nets and burned them after leaving the site, emphasizing that no physical clash occurred in the presence of law enforcement.
Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman of Shantiganj Police Station confirmed that both parties have filed written complaints. Police have restored calm to the area and legal action is currently underway as locals call for an impartial investigation.
