A violent confrontation erupted on Wednesday (11 March) at the Kanchpur bridge area on the western bank of the Shitalakshya River in Siddhirganj, centred on the control of a sand-loading and unloading wharf. The clash involved two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and left at least 15 people injured. The unrest occurred in two phases, between 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm.
Eyewitnesses reported that the conflict began when supporters of Professor Mamun Mahmud, district BNP chief, arrived to take control of the wharf after paying the required lease fees. They were obstructed by a group that had previously collected fees without depositing government revenue. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-11) personnel arrived at the scene to restore order.
The wharf had originally been leased to Mahmudul Hasan Polin, former councillor of Dhaka South City Corporation’s Ward 67. His lease expired in 2021, prompting him to file a case in the High Court. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, the Narayanganj BWTA authority cannot grant a new lease, resulting in a revenue shortfall for the government.
Following political changes, Polin vacated the area, and control temporarily passed to Kaysar Rifat, son of former district BNP chief Gias Uddin. After the 13th parliamentary elections, Rifat and his group voluntarily surrendered the wharf. Recently, Polin appointed Professor Mamun Mahmud’s younger brother, Rasel Mahmud, as a sub-lessee. Rasel arrived on Wednesday to assert control, paying government dues through the BWTA system. This provoked the previous unauthorised operators, resulting in violent clashes including chasing and retaliation.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the injured included Jahir, Noor Hossain, Nazrul, and Zias. Professor Mamun Mahmud explained, “Since 5 August 2024, one faction occupied the wharf and extracted funds without paying government revenue. The legitimate lessee appointed my brother Rasel to enforce proper control. When he attempted to secure the wharf, those previously benefiting illegally attacked him and our supporters. Law enforcement was then called to restore order.”
Local police and BWTA officials provided further context:
| Authority | Statement | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Narayanganj BWTA | Polin is the legal lessee; ongoing court case prevents new leases. Rasel Mahmud manages operations, submitting monthly revenue via pay orders. | Wharf under legal control of Polin’s representative |
| Siddhirganj Police | Complaint received regarding the clash; investigation underway. | Law enforcement monitoring the situation |
| RAB-11 | Deployed to the scene to restore order. | Conflict temporarily contained |
Siddhirganj Thana Volunteer Leader Ripon Sarkar alleged that a group linked to the notorious “Seven Murders” case, including Nooruddin and his nephew Badol, coordinated with Rasel Mahmud’s team to take control of the wharf. They resisted, resulting in armed skirmishes and written complaints submitted to the police.
The authorities have confirmed that the situation is under control, but the legal dispute over the wharf’s lease continues to pose a risk of future tensions.