Repeated clashes between two factions over an old dispute and a disagreement over forming a primary school managing committee, in Ranichapur village of Chakua union, Khaliajuri upazila, Netrokona district, left 28 people from both groups injured. One of them, a young man named Md Shah Alamgir, 23, later died while undergoing treatment at Kurmitola City Care Hospital in Dhaka. He died around 9am on Friday (September 18), according to his neighbour Mohammad Sanwar Hossain and relatives.
According to local sources, the first round of clashes between the two factions took place in Ranichapur village on the evening of September 16. Tensions flared again the following morning, September 17, when the two sides clashed once more. In the intermittent, back-and-forth clashes, at least 28 people from both sides were injured. Many of the injured received initial treatment at Khaliajuri upazila health complex, while four in critical condition were sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Among those four, Md Shah Alamgir, son of Md Nurul Haque of Ranichapur village, was sent to Kurmitola City Care Hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment, where he died around 9am on Friday, his neighbour Mohammad Sanwar Hossain and relatives said.
Speaking to local residents, it emerged that one side in the clash includes followers of Abdur Rahman, former president of Chakua union BNP, while the other side includes followers of Legel Mia, joint general secretary of Chakua union Sramik Dal. Legel Mia’s father, Jalal Mia, is reportedly a member of the upazila Krishak Dal. Khaliajuri upazila Sramik Dal general secretary Md Saiful Islam said: “Legel Mia is joint general secretary No. 1 of Chakua union Sramik Dal. As far as I know, his father, Md Jalal Mia, is a member of the upazila Krishak Dal.”
Police from Khaliajuri police station inspected the scene after receiving news of the incident, and both sides have filed separate complaints at the station, police said. Asked about Shah Alamgir’s death, Khaliajuri police station’s officer-in-charge (OC), Md Nasiruddin, said: “We are getting different kinds of information about the incident at different times. The full picture is not yet clear.” Two cases were registered the same night after both sides filed their complaints. He added that an investigation would be carried out and further legal action taken.