An organised gang has continued repression on the fishermen in Hindu dominated Rangpur union of Dumuria upazila in the Khulna district of Bangladesh.
Grabbing a few jalmahal (water bodies) in the area from the fishermen’s possession they are now torturing them for illegal toll.
During a recent visit, fishermen at Shalua-Rangpur Bazar of the union and jele polli (fishermen’s abode) informed the UNB correspondent that the criminal gang regularly extort money from the local fishermen and businessmen through intimidation.
In fear of attack by the goons, many members of the fishermen community sometimes pass sleepless nights, locals said.
The gang is led allegedly by Benu Miah alias Benu Chairman, former chief of an outlawed party and a notorious criminal, they said.
The gang members forcibility took control of a few water bodies which were earlier under the possession of villagers.
In recent times, they extorted Tk 7,000 from Anamika Mallik, Tk 20,000 from Probin Dhali, Tk 2 lakh from fish enclosure owner Ramesh Mandal and Tk 17,000 from Chandi Das, said villagers.
They also demanded 20 thousand pieces of bricks from Dinesh Mistri.
Dinesh, after giving them 1,000 bricks, wound up his business from the area.
They forcibly took control of the local water bodies Naler Khal, Amviter Khal and Bil Pabla Gagana Khal and now doing fish farming there.
For the purpose, they have also kept the local sluice gate shut, stopping the flow of sewage and causing water logging in the area during monsoon.
Poor villagers on the banks of the canals are the worst victims of the situation. Two local Jubo League activists are reportedly giving shelter to the gang.
Aditya Biswas, chairman of Shalua-Rangpur Fishermen Co-operative Society and Amal Biswas, general secretary, said they submitted a memorandum to Dumuria upazila chairman, upazila nirbahi officer and responsible police officers seeking urgent action and protection.
They also protested torture by the gangs at a recent press conference at Dumuria Press Club and filed cases and general diary in this connection.
But all their allegations and appeals fell on the deaf ears of the authorities concerned.
Contacted, M Mashiur Rahman, officer in-charge of Dumuria police station, said they were doing all to arrest the gang members.
2013 thedailystar.net