At least 12 members of river police were injured during their drive against illegal ilish catching in Meghna as local fishermen hurled brickbats at them on Sunday morning.
The incident took place in the Meghna River under Rajrajeshwar region of Chandpur’s Matlab upazila, where police fired blank shots to bring the situation under control.
At least 80 members of the river police conducted drives from after midnight till the morning on Sunday in Munshiganj, Matlab Uttar region of Chandpur and Shariatpur during which they sank 200 boats after seizing them.
Police during the drive also destroyed a huge quantity of electric nets as the on-going 22-day ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting of ilish is on effect until November 4.
Farida Yasmin, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) [river police], said: "At one point during our drive we saw a huge number of fishermen fishing illegally in Lakshmirchar area in the Meghna. When we went there to stop them, they surrounded river police and began hurling brickbats."
"Police fired 47 rounds of blank shots from shotgun and tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. The injured policemen are currently undergoing treatment at the Chandpur 250 Bed General Hospital. Legal actions will be taken against the culprits involved," ASP Farida added.
Police arrested seven fishermen from Chandpur during their drive last night.
The detained are: Omor Faruk, Kamil Hossain, Md Rubel, Khalil, Shah Jalal, Nabir Hossain, and Mahfuz Alam, confirmed river police Inspector Md Muzahidul Islam.
