Drug traders launched an attack on a mobile court yesterday morning leaving two Ansar members injured.
The incident took place around 12pm when a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Ruhul Amin conducted a drive at KC Dey Road adjacent to Hazari Lane under Kotwali police station.
The mobile court also fined two errant drugstores - Desh Medico and G1 with Tk10,000 and seized two cartons of medicines.
During the drive, several hundreds drug traders all on a sudden started hurling brickbats targeting the mobile court. A chase and counter-chase took place between the traders and the Ansar members of the mobile court. On information, a team of the police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control after charging baton.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Executive Magistrate Ruhul Amin said he did not sustain any injury as the Ansar members protected him from the attackers.
Jashim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said they detained 10 people on charge of launching an attack on a mobile court.
Meanwhile, wholesale drug traders of Hazari Lane area have closed their shutters and suspended selling medicines from afternoon protesting the arrest of their fellow traders.
There are 450 drugstores in Hazarai Lane, a major drug wholesale markets of the port city.
Drug traders also threatened to enforce a non-stop strike from tomorrow if detained drug traders are not released by then.
Samir Kanti Shikder, president, Chittagong chapter of Bangladesh Chemists and Druggist Association, alleged that mobile court seized some legal and approved medicines during the drive. “The drug traders did not launch any attack on the mobile court. The traders locked into a clash between the police,” said Samir Kanti Shikder.
Responding to allegation of drug traders, Executive Magistrate Ruhul Amin said that fake medicines are manufactured in many drugstores of Hazari Lane.
