At least seven people were injured during a clash that occurred between two groups of the BNP over collecting extortion at the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Sarishabari, Jamalpur on Friday.
The injured are Bajlu, Khokon, Mukul, Julhas, Musa, Shahin, and Faruk.
The incident happened at the factory's gate around 2pm.
Locals reported that the clash between the two BNP groups was over extortion related to the unloading and loading of fertilizer imported from abroad and from the Ghorashal Fertilizer Factory.
Sources indicate this extortion has been ongoing since the previous Awami League government.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, extortion at the rate of Tk650 per vehicle was carried out under the direction of Chan Mia Chanu, a BNP Sarishabari upazila convening committee member.
In protest, a group of BNP workers led by BNP members and prominent fertilizer trader Saidur Rahman Tota opposed the extortion, which led to an attack by the extortionists.
Speaking anonymously, labourers revealed that they do not receive any portion of the Tk650 per vehicle extorted under the guise of labour tips. BNP activists Ankan and Ujjal have been pocketing this money by flaunting their BNP connections.
Responding to a question, they further said that an average of 100 vehicles are unloaded daily, resulting in approximately Tk65,000 being extorted daily.
When contacted by phone, Delwar Hossain, general manager of the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory, said: “The factory management is not aware of the extortion.”
He mentioned that this is an external matter, and they can do nothing about it.
