Tension erupts over Buriteesta River dredging

Nilphamari Correspondent :

Tension erupted in Dimla upazila of the Nilphamari district over the dredging of the Buriteesta River, as a temporary Ansar camp came under attack in the Kutirdanga area on Wednesday afternoon.

According to allegations and eyewitness accounts, hundreds of people launched a sudden attack on the temporary Ansar camp at around 5:00 pm, despite the presence of law enforcement agencies. The attackers reportedly vandalised the camp and carried out looting. A local journalist on duty at the scene was allegedly assaulted during the incident.

Following the attack, the area has remained tense and volatile. To prevent further unrest, members of the Bangladesh Army, Police, and Ansar Battalion have been deployed and are maintaining a high level of alert.
Md. Julfikar Rahman, Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Nilphamari Water Development Board, said that the attackers assaulted members of the police, army, and Ansar forces. He added that the permanent Ansar camp and temporary shelters of the contractor company were vandalised and set on fire. At least seven excavators were also damaged and torched during the violence.

Efforts are ongoing to obtain statements from the concerned authorities. Law enforcement agencies said necessary measures are being taken to bring the situation under control and maintain law and order in the area.