Chandpur Correspondent :
District Taskforce team against Jatka netting came under abrupt attack by angry jatka fishermen at Raj Rajeswar , Katakhali and Chhai Factory area in Chandpur Sadar. Additional District Magistrate Abdullah Al Mahmud Jaman and Upazila Fisheries officer Mizanur Rahman sustained injuries when angry jatka fishermen of these areas all of a sudden hurled brick stones at 8 pm upon the District Taskforce.
The team comprising ADM, Executive Magistrate, Navy personnel , River Police, BCG men including Fisheries officials was conducting drives against Jatka netting on Thursday from 4 pm till 10 pm in Mini Cox’s Bazar, Goalia char, Raj Rajeswar , Katakhali, Kachikatha and Chhai Factory area, Anandabazar, Tilabari areas in the Meghna and Padma rivers under Chandpur Sadar.
In order to protect themselves from attacks by angry fishermen at Raj Rajeswar, Katakhali, and a place near Chhai Factory area, River Police and Coastguard members had to open six rounds of rubber bullets and one blank shot to disperse the mob who retreated later.
The District Taskforce detained 17 fishermen, seized 3.85 lakh metres of illegal current nets and damaged 63 fishing boats, five fish arots(trading shops) were burnt down at Raj Rajeswar and one maund of jatka was seized which was later distributed among the poor, destitute and orphanages. The seized nets were burnt to ashes in Chandpur at 11 pm on Thursday. Then a Mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Morshedul Islam at River Police Station jailed 13 fishermen for one year each under Fish Preservation Act and four small boys were released after they were fined. Additional District Magistrate and Upazila Fisheries officer Mizanur Rahman were treated at Chandpur General Hospital later.
Contacted, ADM and District Fisheries officer Asadul Baki confirmed the news.
