AL Leader Dies Nine Days After Assault Over Pond Fishing Dispute in Sitakunda.

Md. Omar Faruk, Special Correspondent Md. Manjur Ahmed, 40, who was critically injured in an alleged attack over fishing in a pond in Sitakunda, Chattogram, died while undergoing treatment nine days after the incident. According to his family, Manjur was attacked with locally made weapons following a longstanding dispute, and his two legs were allegedly severely injured, including claims that the tendons were cut during the assault. Manjur was the son of Abdul Monaaf of Golabaria area under Ward No. 2 of Muradpur Union in Sitakunda. He was known locally as the joint general secretary of the ward Awami League and worked as a bus driver, according to his family. On September 20, Manjur was seriously injured in an attack near the pond and was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. After receiving treatment for nine days, he died early Tuesday, September 29. His wife, Ruma Akter, filed a murder case with Sitakunda Model Police Station naming eight people as accused. Mehedi Hasan Rana was named as the prime accused. The complainant's side alleged that some of the accused were involved in Jubo League politics. However, no statement from any leader of the organisation could be obtained regarding the allegation. The other accused are Md. Nishan, Md. Alamgir, Jahangir Hossain Rony, Ashiq, Md. Saimon, Amir Hossain and Mohin Uddin. According to the case statement and allegations made by the family, Manjur had been cultivating fish for nearly 15 years after leasing a pond owned by a local person known as Captain Rana. A dispute reportedly developed between Manjur and Mehedi Hasan Rana and his associates over the installation of a pump to drain water from the pond. The family alleged that Tk 50,000 was demanded from Manjur in connection with the dispute. However, the allegation could not be independently verified. According to the family, on September 20, Mehedi Hasan Rana called Manjur to the pond by phone. When he arrived, several people allegedly attacked him. He was reportedly beaten and hacked with sharp weapons, and the case statement alleges that the tendons in both of his legs were cut. Manjur's son, Abdullah Tahin, said he pleaded with the attackers to spare his father but witnessed the assault. “My father was the only earning member of our family. We are two brothers. After losing our father, we are worried about how we will manage our household expenses and education. We want a fair investigation and justice for our father's death,” he said. The family also claimed that accused No. 2, Nishan, had previously spent a long period in jail in connection with a murder case and was recently released on bail. This claim could not be independently verified. Following the autopsy, Manjur's body was taken from Chattogram Medical College Hospital to his village on Tuesday evening. He was later buried at the family graveyard after the funeral prayer. Sitakunda Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Mahinul Islam said an argument between two groups over fishing in the pond later escalated into a physical altercation, leaving Manjur injured. “He was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital by his relatives. Later, his family filed a case with the police station. He died early Tuesday while undergoing treatment,” the OC said. The OC added that police were conducting special operations to arrest the accused named in the case and were making efforts to apprehend them as soon as possible.