10 injured as forest grabbers attack local officials, joint forces in Gazipur during eviction raid

At least 10 people, including an assistance commissioner (land), have been injured in an attack by forest land grabbers on joint forces during an eviction raid.

The attackers also vandalised three cars, including one belonging to the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), and two excavators when the officials went to recover occupied forest land in Rajabari area of Sreepur upazila in Gazipur today (26 November), said local officials.

Of the injured, six have been identified as Assistant Commissioner (land) Atahar Shakil, UNO's car driver Abdul Hanif, UNO office staffer Ashikur Rahman, Rajendrapur Forest Range Officer's driver Liton, excavator operators Md Russel and Md Hakimullah.

Two people have been detained by law enforcers over the attack, local administration officials said. However, details about their identities could not be confirmed immediately.

Locals and eyewitnesses said an influential group has been forcibly occupying forest land of Kafiltali Mauza No-49 of Sreepur for a long time. After the mass uprising in August, various structures were illegally built in Sreepur to occupy a huge amount of forest land.

For the past few days, the local administration has been asking people on loudspeakers to remove the illegal establishments. However, some local influential individuals, and illegal encroachers did not remove the structures from the forest department land.

In a bid to recover the occupied land, the local administration, alongside joint forces of army, RAB and police, launched an eviction drive in the area.
 
"Towards the end of the raid, we went to recover some land from illegal occupation. When we were set to return after demolishing the illegal shops and houses there, suddenly owners of the establishments started attacking us with stones and bricks from the railway line," said AC-Land Atahar.

"They threw bricks and stones at my car and the UNO's car. Two drivers of excavators were seriously injured. They also attacked me and two UNO office staff," he added.

Sreepur UNO Sajib Ahmed said they were able to identify some of the attackers.

"Some of those involved in the attack have been identified. Among them are Sirajul, his son Masood, his sister, wife, and daughter Sharmin. Attempts are being made to identify the others. In this case, the forest department will file a case under its forest law and the district administration will file another case," he said.

Sreepur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jainul Abedin said no cases have been filed yet. "We'll take action against those involved once a complaint has been filed with the station."