Magistrate, 5 cops among 30 injured in clashes

Demonstrators protesting eviction from government forestland in Shakhipur yesterday demanding withdrawal of the UNO and the Assistant Commissioner for Land. PHOTO: STAR

Police fired at least 100 rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators who besieged the Upazila Nirbahi Officer's office demanding removal of the UNO and the Assistant Commissioner of land revenue department, who started the eviction drive about a month ago.

After launch of the eviction drive, an all-party body styled Shakhipur Bachao Sangram Committee (committee to save Shakhipur) was formed to resist the eviction.

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After yesterday's clashes, the Sangram Committee announced hartal in Shakhipur for an indefinite period from yesterday.

Tangail Deputy Commissioner Saifuddin Ahmed Majumder and Police Superintendent Mirza Abdullahel Baki rushed to Shakhipur.

They were holding a meeting with the Sangram Committee leaders when the report was filed at about 9 last night.

Magistrate Ziauddin Ahmed and SI Abdur Razzak were injured by brickbats hurled by the demonstrators.

Ten of the injured people including Sangrame Committee leader Shakhipur JCD (Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal) president Sabur Reza and Saiful Islam were admitted to the Sakhipur Upazila Health Complex.

The injured also included Sangrame Committee convener Mir Shamsul Alam, who sustained beating by police, sources said.

The clashes ensued at noon when the demonstrators marched with sticks and tried to besiege the UNO office. Police resisted the procession at the Upazila Parishad office gate. The protesters hurled brickbats at police.

The upazila administration said they launched the drive to evict encroachers from government forestlands. But the protesters claimed that the administration was also evicting lessees.

As the violence was quelled, the Sangrame Committee held a rally at Taltala in the upazila headquarters.

With Shakhipur BNP president Mostafizur Rahman in the chair, the rally was addressed by, among others, BNP secretary Shajahan Saju, general secretary of local traders association Khalilur Rahman, Awami League (AL) general secretary Sawkat Sikdar and Jatiya Party leader Kazi Ashraf Siddiki.

Speakers at the rally said the hartal will continue till the UNO and the Assistant Commissioner for Land are removed.

After the rally, BNP central leader Ahmed Azam, who was a candidate in Sakhipur in last parliament election, told newsmen, "Our movement is not against the government. Our movement is against autocracy of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Assistant Commissioner (Land) ".