Fisherman Killed by Robbers in Raipura, Body Recovered After 17 Hours

In a tragic incident in Raipura, Narsingdi, a young fisherman was shot dead by armed robbers while fishing in the Meghna River on Friday night. His body was recovered some 17 hours later on Saturday afternoon near Fakirerchar village.

The deceased has been identified as Md. Hedayetullah, aged 22, a resident of Fakirerchar village in Shreenagar Union, Raipura Upazila. He was the primary breadwinner of his impoverished family, earning a livelihood by fishing at night and selling his catch locally.

According to family members, Hedayetullah had gone fishing on Friday night with his uncle, Chanu Mia. Around midnight, a speedboat approached their small fishing boat and stopped nearby. Five armed men, carrying a mix of indigenous weapons and firearms, advanced towards them. In a desperate bid to escape, both men jumped into the river. While Chanu Mia managed to swim safely to the riverbank, Hedayetullah disappeared and was feared drowned.

Local residents launched a search throughout the day, scouring various sections of the Meghna River in search of the missing fisherman. Around 5:30 pm on Saturday, his body was spotted floating near the site of the attack. Locals promptly recovered the body and brought it ashore. The Mirzarchar Naval Outpost, under Raipura Police Station, arrived at the scene to conduct a preliminary inspection and document the circumstances of the death.

Chanu Mia recounted the terrifying ordeal: “The sudden attack left us completely disoriented. We both jumped into the river, and they opened fire in our direction. There were five of them on the speedboat. I demand justice for the killing of my nephew.”

Local Union Parishad member Jalal Uddin said that upon recovering the body, it was evident that bullets had struck Hedayetullah on the left ear, neck, and cheek.

Incident Summary

Raipura Police Officer-in-Charge, Md. Mojibur Rahman, confirmed that the body had been sent to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination. Legal proceedings have been initiated, and the police are investigating the incident to apprehend the culprits.

The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising concerns about riverine security and the safety of fishermen who often work at night to support their families. Residents have urged the authorities to increase patrolling and prevent further incidents of armed robbery in the area.