Clash over land acquisition for army housing: 50 hurt
Sunday, 24 October 2010
At least 50 people were injured, including 10 receiving gunshots, in a clash over acquisition of about 5,000 bighas (165,000 decimals) of land for an army housing project near Rupganj-Ichhapura road in Narayanganj on Saturday, reports bdnews24.com
The police opened fire, lobbed tear-shells and charged batons on about 7,000 demonstrators who blocked the Rupganj-Ichhapura road for four hours from around 6.0am and engaged in chase and counter-chase with the law enforcers, Rupganj police chief Forkan Shikder said.
The police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) brought the situation under control around noon. Additional police personnel were deployed to prevent further clashes.
The 10 protesters with bullet wounds were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). One sub-inspector was also injured.
Witnesses said 7,000-8,000 residents from 24 moujas under Kayetpara and Rupganj Unions started demonstrating against the land acquisition bid for an army housing project.
They vandalised some seven to eight vehicles during the demonstration.
Local people alleged the army initiated a housing project named Purbachal Upashahar on 5,000 bighas of Rupganj Union.
They said the newly-set up army camps at Purbagram, Mushuri, Bariachhoni and Naora villages of Rupganj were compelling the locals to sell their land for the project at very cheap prices.
Moreover, they have been preventing the residents of Chobbish Mouja from having their land registered, locals said.
Apart from demonstration, local residents held a protest rally at Rupganj’s Kazi Abdul Hamid High School premises Saturday morning. They said the movement has been going on for several months
The police opened fire, lobbed tear-shells and charged batons on about 7,000 demonstrators who blocked the Rupganj-Ichhapura road for four hours from around 6.0am and engaged in chase and counter-chase with the law enforcers, Rupganj police chief Forkan Shikder said.
The police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) brought the situation under control around noon. Additional police personnel were deployed to prevent further clashes.
The 10 protesters with bullet wounds were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). One sub-inspector was also injured.
Witnesses said 7,000-8,000 residents from 24 moujas under Kayetpara and Rupganj Unions started demonstrating against the land acquisition bid for an army housing project.
They vandalised some seven to eight vehicles during the demonstration.
Local people alleged the army initiated a housing project named Purbachal Upashahar on 5,000 bighas of Rupganj Union.
They said the newly-set up army camps at Purbagram, Mushuri, Bariachhoni and Naora villages of Rupganj were compelling the locals to sell their land for the project at very cheap prices.
Moreover, they have been preventing the residents of Chobbish Mouja from having their land registered, locals said.
Apart from demonstration, local residents held a protest rally at Rupganj’s Kazi Abdul Hamid High School premises Saturday morning. They said the movement has been going on for several months