A farmer was crushed allegedly by an excavator as he obstructed pond digging on cropland in Mohanpur upazila of Rajshahi on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Jubayer Hossain (25), a resident of Boro Palsha village in the upazila.
The incident occurred around 9:00 pm. Following the incident, local people set fire to the excavating machine. Police have detained Abdul Hamid (28), a resident of Kadim Hamjani Uttarpara in Tangail, on charges of killing the farmer.
Eyewitnesses said that Jubayer along with local residents was trying to resist digging in the village aimed at protecting agricultural land. At that time, locals and some people from Bhimnagar village became involved in an altercation. At one stage, Jubayer fell under the excavator and was seriously injured.
Later, locals rescued and took him to Mohanpur Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.
Mohanpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fahima Binte Akhter visited the scene and the victim’s house. She said, “Knowing that a pond would be dug, local residents resisted. They said they would not allow pond digging on cropland.”
During an argument, she said, Jubayer was hit by the excavator and was injured. Later, he died from injuries. Legal action will be taken against those involved, she added.
