Bangladesh: Upazila Nirbahi Officer Attacked During River Sand Dredging Raid
A mobile court led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Syeda Yasmin Sultana was attacked during an anti-illegal sand mining operation in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha. Four dredger machines were destroyed in the raid, and legal action will be taken against those involved.
A mobile court and a local upazila administration team faced a violent assault during an operation to stop illegal sand extraction from the Korotoa River in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha. The incident took place on Monday, spanning from the evening until night, within the Bishwanathpur village area located under Darbost union.
During the enforcement operation, the administration targeted illegal sand mining activities along the riverbanks. As part of the crackdown, authorities successfully destroyed four separate dredger machines that were being actively used to extract sand from the Korotoa River without legal authorization.
However, the situation escalated when local residents reportedly used mosque loudspeakers to broadcast announcements and gather a crowd. The assembled individuals then launched a coordinated attack, throwing brickbats and tree branches directly at the upazila nirbahi officer and other members of the mobile court team.
The violent confrontation resulted in severe injuries to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and executive magistrate Syeda Yasmin Sultana, as well as a mobile court worker named Raju Sheikh. The targeted officials sustained serious physical harm during the targeted attack by the gathered villagers in the Bishwanathpur area.
Addressing the violent episode, UNO Syeda Yasmin Sultana stated that when the team went to conduct the raid in the Bishwanathpur area, they were attacked with brickbats. She further confirmed that strict legal action will be initiated against all the individuals who were involved in carrying out this attack.
