Miscreants poured poison into a pond under cover of darkness in Subarnachar, Noakhali, killing fish worth about Tk 2 lakh.

The incident took place at dawn on Sunday (17 October) at the fish farm of Zobayer in Nayapara village, ward 8 of No 6 Char Aman Ullah union in the upazila. He is the son of Md Abdul Khalek of Khalek Dubaiwala Bari in the same village.

Md Gofran Uddin, a former union parishad member of Char Aman Ullah union, and local people said someone poisoned the pond in the early hours of Sunday. Residents demanded a proper investigation to identify the culprits and give them appropriate punishment.

Fish farmer Md Zobayer Hossain Jamrul said: "We have leased a pond in front of neighbouring Mia Dubaiwala Bari for 10 years and farm various species of fish there. We have had a family feud for a long time with Md Delowar Hossain Rubel, Tipu Sultan and Anwar Hossain of the neighbouring house of the late Mojibul Haque, along with Mukbul Ahmed. A few months ago we had an argument with them over an electricity pole. Some days after that, someone poured poison into the pond at night and killed fish worth about Tk 6-7 lakh. In exactly the same way, early on Sunday morning, poison was poured into the pond again and killed fish worth Tk 2 lakh. I found a polythene bag used to mix the poison on the bank of the pond."

Calls to a phone at the home of the accused, at Mojibul Haque's house, went unanswered.

Md Ziaul Haque, officer-in-charge of Charjabbar police station, said legal action would be taken if a written complaint is received.

Source: Samprotik Deshkal. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.