A BNP leader and his wife have been injured in an alleged knife attack in Akkelpur, Joypurhat, following a dispute over the extraction and transport of sand and soil from farmland. A leader of the Zia Parishad has been accused of carrying out the attack, although he has denied the allegation and lodged a counter-accusation against the BNP leader.
The incident took place at around 8.30pm on Friday, 2 October, at a road junction in Chok Roair village under Rukindipur union of Akkelpur upazila. The injured couple and the accused Zia Parishad leader are receiving treatment at the upazila health complex.
Those admitted to the hospital have been identified as Alamgir Hossain Alam, vice-president of Ward No. 9 BNP in Rukindipur union, his wife Mahbuba Khatun, and Atiar Rahman Sumon, a leader of the upazila Zia Parishad.
According to local residents, soil and sand had reportedly been transported by tractors from farmland in the area for some time. The movement of the vehicles and the extraction activity became a source of dispute, with Alamgir Hossain objecting to the practice. He subsequently informed local leaders of his political organisation about the matter.
An attempt was then made to resolve the dispute through mediation. A meeting involving both sides was due to be held under the mediation of Aminur Islam, president of Rukindipur union BNP. The two sides were expected to sit together on Saturday to discuss the matter and seek a settlement.
The situation, however, deteriorated before the proposed meeting could take place.
Local sources said Alamgir and Atiar became involved in an argument at Roair market on Friday night. At one stage, Alamgir was allegedly attacked with a sharp weapon. His wife, Mahbuba, was also injured when she went forward in an attempt to protect her husband.
Alamgir alleged that the attack was linked to his opposition to what he described as illegal sand extraction and his refusal to pay money demanded in connection with the activity.
“I was attacked because I had spoken out against illegal sand extraction and refused to pay the money being demanded,” Alamgir said.
Atiar, however, rejected the allegation that he was involved in sand extraction. He claimed that Alamgir was involved in the local drug trade and that he had objected to such activities. According to Atiar, Alamgir was the one who attacked him on Friday night.
The conflicting accounts mean that the circumstances leading to the confrontation remain disputed. The allegations made by either side have not yet been established through a police investigation.
Aminur Islam, president of Rukindipur union BNP, said a dispute had developed between the two sides over sand extraction. He said discussions had been planned for Saturday to resolve the matter, but the parties became involved in a confrontation on Friday night before the meeting could take place.
Akkelpur police station officer-in-charge Mehedi Hasan said police had been informed about the incident. No written complaint had yet been submitted by either side, he said.
The officer added that police would take necessary legal action after receiving a formal complaint and conducting an investigation.
The dispute has brought several issues together, including allegations of sand extraction from agricultural land, the use of tractors to transport soil and sand, and claims that such activity has damaged village roads. The competing allegations of assault and the wider dispute between the parties will now need to be examined through the appropriate legal process.
