50 injured in clashes in Kishoreganj
Staff Reporter :
At least 40 people, including seven policemen, were injured in a series of clashes between the residents of two villages over a dispute in naming a local bazar in Bhairab Upazila on Monday and Tuesday.
Police and locals said the clashes took place between Mirachar and Akbarnagar villagers of Kalikaprasad union of Bhairab upazila. During the clashes, 20 businesses were vandalized on both sides.
Police fired many rubber bullets to control the situation. Four people were reportedly injured by rubber bullets.
Local residents said that Akbarnagar Bazar is near the Bhairab-Mymensingh regional highway. Akbarnagar and Mirachar village traders are more in number in the market. Last Saturday, the Roads and Public Paths (SOAZ) authority put up a signboard in the market area intensifying it Akbarnagar Bazar. The people of Mirachar village were unhappy with this. The expectation of Mirachar residents is that the market should be named Mirachar Bazar, not Akbarnagar. They were also in favor of naming it as Akbarnagar-Mirachar Bazar. Various discussions were held for solving the issue through discussions between the two bickering groups.
Meanwhile,on Monday noon some people of Mirachar village came to the market and broke the signboard and cheered. The people of Akbarnagar protested this. At one point, both sides clashed in the market area with local weapons. Being informed, the police came and tried to stop the clash.
ASP in Bhairab, Delwar Hossain Khan, Bhairab OC Mohammad Makchudul Alam, Inspector (Investigation) Shah Alam Molla, Sub-Inspector (SI) Abdur Rahman, Mahabub and Alam were injured during the clashes. They all received first aid.
The others injured are Umar Farooq (20), Sohrab Hossain (25), Jewel Mia (28) and Asad Mia (30) who were injured by rubber bullets are undergoing treatment at Bhairab Govt. Hospital They are residents of Bhairab ‘s Mirachar village.
Kalikaprasad Union Parishad (UP) chairman Liton Mia said, ‘the tension between the two villages over the naming of the market is not new. There were clashes before. If there is no permanent solution to the issue, the distance between the minds of the people of the two villages will be greater.’
Explaining the reason for writing the market name Akbarnagar on the government signboard, Deputy Assistant Engineer of Roads and Public Roads Bhairab Office Usman Mia said, the place of the market is Akbarnagar Mauza. So naming it Akbarnagar is relevant. They wrote Akbarnagar on the signboard according to the rules.
Police Super(SP) in Kishoreganj, Md. Rasel Sheikh PPM (Bar), DD & DS in local Government (LG) Habibur Rahman ADM Kazi Mohua Momtaj, Additional SP (Crime) Md. Al-Amin visited the spot.
Police Super Mohammad Rasel Sheikh told the New Nation that, Additional. police deployed in the area and police also held at least 13 persons in this connection.They brought the situation under control, SP added.
