Louhajong OC responds to viral videos of Hilsha raid

Two videos of Louhajong police station Officer-in-Charge Alamgir Hossain leading a raid in the Padma River recently went viral in various social media platforms. 

The clips attracted both criticism and applaud from the netizens. In those clips, the OC can be heard shouting "We will open fire, open fire," at the fleeing fishermen.

Alamgir Hossain finally responded to the controversy on Saturday, reports the Prothom Alo. 

Discussing his rather infamous raid to implement the restriction on the fishing of mother Hilsha, OC Alamgir Hossain said, "The videos were recorded on October 21, but no bullets were fired that day. 

"They [the police] only shouted about firing their guns to scare the fishermen, to persuade them into surrendering. After those fishermen escaped, the boat they were using was seized along with fishing nets." 

Alamgir added that the government has imposed a restriction on fishing Hilsha because it is their breeding season. 

"Raids are carried out in the river from time to time as per government directive," he added. 

Regarding the criticism on social media, the OC said those who do not want to defend the resources of the country, those who are not respectful towards the government and those who cannot do business because of the restriction, are the ones who are criticizing the raid. 

Meanwhile, Munshiganj Superintendent of Police Mohammed Jayedul Alam said, "No bullets were fired in that raid, police shouted to scare the culprits into surrendering."

One of the viral videos of the OC is nearly three minutes long and the other is just over 1 minute long.

In those videos, OC Alamgir Hossain is seen leading a raid in a speedboat chasing the fishermen fishing Hilsha. The fishermen are seen trying to speed away and the OC is flashing his gun & shouting, "We will open fire!"

Other members of the raid team are also seen shouting, "We will open fire!"