The incident took place on Friday, August 21, at the Uttar Tarabunia area within Ward No. 4 of Saturia Union, where the old iron structure stood over the Edabor canal. Locals reportedly confronted Mamun Akon, the general secretary of the Saturia Union unit of the Swechchhasebak Dal, as he and others were dismantling the structural beams and associated iron materials from the vital crossing.

For years, community members depended heavily on this canal crossing to conduct their daily routines. School and college students, women, elderly individuals, and local workers used the pathway routinely. Because parts of the flooring had aged over time, residents had previously placed betel nut tree trunks across damaged sections to maintain a makeshift walking route. Despite its age, it remained the primary and virtually solitary direct link for local commuters.

Eyewitnesses noted that the removal occurred without arranging any alternative transit routes or securing clearance from the union parishad or relevant engineering bodies. Alerted by the sudden commotion, local citizens intervened and halted the work. Authorities from the local government engineering office subsequently dispatched personnel to the site to compile an official seizure list of the recovered metal parts, which were then placed into the custody of local village guard Hemayet.

When confronted regarding his actions, accused leader Mamun Akon maintained that he removed the structural elements to submit them to the local council, claiming he acted under the verbal consent of Saturia Union Parishad Chairman Mainul Haidar Nipu and reserved female ward member Firoza Khanam. When questioned about undertaking such a task without providing an alternative pedestrian path, he asserted his involvement in regional social welfare activities.

Efforts by journalists to reach female member Firoza Khanam via multiple telephone calls were unsuccessful as her mobile phone remained unanswered. However, Saturia Union Parishad Chairman Syed Mainul Haidar Nipu firmly refuted the claims of prior consent, stating that no such permission was ever granted. He emphasised that removing public infrastructure requires formal council resolutions and prior arrangement of alternative crossings or replacement structures by local public representatives, noting that individual actions of this nature hold no legal backing.

Rajapur Upazila Swechchhasebak Dal President Ratan Debনাথ disavowed the activity, stating that the organisation does not endorse unauthorised actions of this nature, which he categorised as entirely personal conduct. He added that formal disciplinary measures would be enforced if allegations are proven through investigation.

Local administration and engineering departments have acknowledged the incident and initiated inquiries. Rajapur Upazila LGED Engineer S. M. Ziaul Huq confirmed that no prior clearance was requested from their office, noting that staff were sent to inventory the materials upon receiving reports, which remain secured under the local watchman. Rajapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rifat Ara Mouri indicated that the matter is being examined and appropriate administrative steps will follow if the irregularities are confirmed.

Frustrated residents have urgently called upon the upazila administration, local government engineering offices, and respective authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly, restore safe communication lines, and establish accountability for the disruption of local infrastructure.