At least 30 people including police officials were injured in clashes between law enforcers and residents of the Bastuhara Colony in Mujgunni, Khulna during an eviction drive on Sunday.
The eviction drive began early in the morning as authorities attempted to hand over plots to landowners.
From the outset, residents blocked the road by burning tyres and placing tree trunks to prevent the operation.
The situation escalated when police began baton-charging the protesters, sparking a violent confrontation.
In response, locals started throwing brickbats and stones at the police, forcing them to retreat.
To control the situation, the police deployed tear gas. During the chaos, the bulldozer involved in the eviction was damaged by the protesting residents.
Residents of the area have demanded that proper rehabilitation arrangements be made before any eviction can take place.
The police have stated that, following a magistrate’s order, the eviction drive has been temporarily suspended.
Mir Atahar Ali, Officer-in-Charge of Khalishpur Police Station, said, “The Housing Department’s eviction operation began in the Bostuhara Colony with the arrival of bulldozers. When the public began protesting, they threw bricks, causing injuries to me and 14 other police officers. The bulldozer operator was also attacked, and his condition is serious. The operation has been temporarily halted to control the situation.”
Around 200 families have been living on 2 acres of land in the Bostuhara Colony since 1987. Despite the land being sold in plots by the Housing Department through a lottery, 42 plot owners have yet to receive their plots after 35 years.
