Barishal Bureau

Fishermen were attacked with hand grenades during the Mother Hilsa Conservation Campaign at Muladi upazila of Barishal district on Monday.

Fishermen's relatives resisted the administration people with indegenous weapons on the banks of the river.

On Monday at around 11:00 a.m., the bomb attack took place in the Jayanti River in the Hat area of Chermalia Moizdin of the Upazila's Safipur Union.

At that time, the fishermen's relatives snatched a detained fisherman, said Upazila Fisheries Officer Md. Mizanur Rahman. In this incident, the Upazila Fisheries Officer said that he will file a case at Muladi police station in the night.

Before this, officials of upazila administration were attacked at Najipur Police Outpost area of Arial Khan River at 11 am last Saturday and at Dumuritla Baghabari area of Gachua Union of Jayanti River at 8 pm.

The officials of the Fisheries Department said that the fishermen are embarrassed because of their rude behavior by not complying with the Hilsa Resource Protection Act. There is a fear of disrupting the hilsa protection operation in Ariyal Khan, Jayanti and Nayabhangani rivers of the upazila.

Upazila Fisheries Officer Mohammad Abul Bashar said that although the operation was supposed to start from 4 am on Monday, the operation started from 8 am due to the negligence of the trawler drivers. Later, several Karentjals and a fisherman were arrested from the Khat area of Charmalia Moizddin on Jainthi River.

Around 11 am, 15-20 fishing boats surrounded the expedition trawler and speedboat and started throwing bricks. When the trawlers and speedboats of the expedition tried to move to the south bank of Jainthi River to escape from the attack by the fishermen, some local people tried to attack with indigenous weapons. A case will be filed in this case.

Sajal Munshi, the owner of the trawler, said that the administration officials were blocked by the attack of hundreds of fishermen in 15-20 boats. The people of Charkalekhan Sholghar area rescued them after receiving the news. Hilsa protection campaign is being disrupted as the fishermen are out of control.

Upazila Marine Fisheries Officer. Mizanur Rahman said that when a fisherman was arrested for seizing current nets and hunting hilsa, other fishermen joined forces and attacked. They detonated two hand grenades and took away the captured fisherman. In this way, the officials are embarrassed by one attack after another and the operation is hampered.

UNO Nizam Uddin said, swift legal action will be taken against the attacking fishermen.