Coast guard-fisherman clash: 3 fishermen shot in Pirojpur

Three fishermen were shot, seven more people were injured in a clash between fishermen and the Bangladesh Coast Guard during a drive against jatka fishing in Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur.

The clash took place at Harinpala-Tuskhali estuary of Kancha and Baleshwar rivers in Bhandaria upazila on Tuesday, confirmed district Fisheries Officer Abdul Bari.

He said that the Executive Magistrate Abdullah Khairul Islam Chowdhury along with the coast guard and police launched an operation against catching of jatka and small fry at 11:30am. 

During the operation, jatka and small fishing nets were seized in Baleshwar river.

"On their way back after the operation, coast guard members noticed that fishermen were trying to hide their nets while fishing in the estuaries of Harinpala in Bhandaria and Tuskhali canal in Mathbaria. When they tried to arrest them, the fishermen attacked them with local weapons. In response, the coast guard opened fire on the fishermen, injuring several,” he added.

District fisheries officer further said that around Tk15.5 lakh worth of banned nets were seized and burnt after the operation.

However, Telikhali Union Parishad Chairman Samsuddin Hawladar claimed that the fishermen got into an argument when the coast guard tried to seize nets drying in front of the fishermen’s houses. 

Telikhali police investigation centre Sub-Inspector (SI) Nur Amin said six bullet casings of Chinese rifles were recovered from the spot and that the situation was under control.