Clashes among villagers in B Baria pose risk of Covid-19 infection
In the last few days, one has died and more than 150 people got wounded in various clashes in different villages in the district.
Short scuffles or even violent clashes over trivial issues have become common in Brahmanbaria, and these occur even during the shutdown over the Covid-19 outbreak.
One person was killed and more than 150 injured in the last few days in clashes in different villages in the district.
Brahmanbaria Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Ekram Ullah said, "If anyone involved in a clash contacts the virus, he will spread it to others."
Many expatriates groups allegedly provide financial and legal support to those involved in the clashes. According to the local administration, as many as 6,791 expatriates returned to the district between March 1 to March 30.
The authorities are struggling to enforce quarantine of those expatriates, and the clashes in the villages have made the problem of maintaining social distancing even more difficult.
Former Brahmanbaria-2 Member of Parliament Advocate Ziaul Haque Mridha told The Business Standard that expatriates are financially well off and they patronize a group involved in the clash to establish their influence.
Expatriates provide money to different village groups to buy arms. They also bear the legal cost after the clash, said local people.
In April, a youth died, one lost his eyes, more than 15 people got wounded, and many houses were vandalized in clashes over very trivial issues like a scuffle while playing ludo or cricket.
In March, more than 50 people were wounded in clashes in the district's Sarail upazila. Hundreds of people in both groups took part in these clashes.
The local administration and police had several sittings with villagers, and many have surrendered their arms, however, the clashes have not stopped.
Local elites have urged everyone to work together to fight the novel coronavirus, otherwise Brahmanbaria will have to face a disastrous situation.
"The police can go tough to stop the clashes, said Zela Nagorik Forum Secretary Piyush Kanti Acharjee, adding that, "awareness should be created involving local government representatives to make people understand the severity of the present situation."
Brahmanbaria Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Sayeed said, "We are always cautious about the clashes taking place in Brahmanbaria. In the time of the global disaster, we are trying to make people stay at home along with setting up checkposts on the roads."
