Fisherman Aktar Shot Dead on the Meghna: Report Blames 'Unknown Opponent', Companions Accuse River Police

Fisherman Aktar Hawlader, 40, was shot dead nine days ago while fishing on the Meghna River. A police investigation report says he was killed by a rubber bullet fired by an 'unknown opponent'. Aktar's fellow fishermen, however, say he died in firing by a Chandpur river police patrol team.

The incident took place at around 5am on October 29. Aktar was shot while fishing in the Orakul area of the Meghna in Hijla upazila. He was the son of Sujan Hawlader of Char Memania village in the same upazila. That day was the last day of a 22-day ban on catching hilsa.

Aktar's companion Abdul Bepari said there were 13 fishermen in their boat. They had thought the ban was over. A short while after the Fajr call to prayer, a group of police arrived in a trawler and opened fire on them.

Aktar and another fisherman were hit in the firing. Seriously injured, Aktar was first taken to Hijla hospital. He died on the way to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

The fishermen who were in the boat said the Chandpur river police patrol team carried out the attack. According to them, the attackers at the same time detained several people from another trawler and took them to Chandpur.

Chandpur region river police superintendent Syed Mushfiqur Rahman and other law enforcement officials have denied the allegation. A police source, however, said Barisal district police recently sent a report on the incident to senior officials, setting out the details.

That report says that at around 5am on October 29, when eight to ten people went fishing in the balumahal area of the Meghna, east of Orakul in Gourabdi union of Hijla, there was a chase and clash with an unknown opponent. At one stage the unknown opponent fired rubber bullets, and Aktar Hawlader was hit in the chest and the right side of his neck. Another man, Abdul Bepari, was also injured.

Barisal district police additional superintendent (Muladi circle) Tarek Aman Banna said he knew nothing about the matter. He said it was not their matter but one under investigation by the river police, and that if the victim's side wanted to file a case, it could do so with the river police, after which the local police station would investigate it.

Barisal region river police superintendent Md Imran Hossain Molla said they had sent a report on the Meghna incident to the higher office. He declined to say anything more.

Although Aktar was shot dead, no case has yet been filed. Hijla police station officer-in-charge Solayman Hossain confirmed this, saying they had no clue about the incident. As it was a river incident, they were not looking into it, but the Hijla river police were investigating, he said.

Former Memania union chairman Afsar Uddin said they were certain the Chandpur river police had shot Aktar dead. He said the fishermen were poor and, out of fear of harassment, none of them was speaking out. The report also noted that the victim's family had not filed a case for fear of harassment.

Human rights organisation Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has demanded an independent and impartial investigation into the killing. Its executive director Ijazul Islam said a judicial or independent inquiry committee outside the accused force must be formed and its report published within a set time.