PANCHAGARH — The chief executive officer of Debigonj upazila was attacked Saturday by an angry crowd while trying to restore order at a fuel-distribution point and was forced to take shelter in a nearby house, officials said.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sabuj Kumar Basak came under attack at the Messrs Jannatul Mawa filling station in the Bhaulaganj area of Debigonj upazila in Panchagarh district around noon Saturday.
Eyewitnesses and officials said a long queue of motorcycle drivers had formed at the station to collect fuel. Many of them did not have the fuel cards, vehicle registration or driver’s licenses required under government directives. Drivers with proper documents struggled to get fuel and the situation grew increasingly chaotic.
Unable to control the situation, the filling-station authorities called in the UNO. Basak arrived at the scene around 12:30 p.m. and ordered drivers without papers to leave the line. Two motorcycle drivers were fined 500 taka each.
Shortly after the fines were imposed, a procession of more than 100 people arrived and attacked the UNO and those with him. The attackers assaulted Basak’s bodyguard Toibul, 43, and tried to snatch his service weapon. He was injured in the scuffle and admitted to Debigonj Upazila Health Complex.
As the situation spiraled out of control, the UNO took shelter in a nearby house with the help of locals. Debigonj police later reached the scene, rescued him and escorted him safely to the upazila office.
“Fuel was to be distributed at three pumps in the upazila today,” Basak said. “I went to the scene after hearing about the deterioration of law and order. When I told drivers without papers to leave the line and fined two of them, a group of people came in a procession and attacked. They tried to snatch my bodyguard’s weapon.”
Debigonj police officer-in-charge Selim Malek said the situation was now normal. “Police quickly reached the scene and brought it under control,” he said. “Those involved in obstructing government work will be identified and brought to justice.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report