2 killed, 50 injured as villagers clash over election dispute in B’baria

Two people were killed and 50 others injured when two groups of villagers hailing from nine villages clashed over a national election-related dispute at Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as local religious leader Habibur Rahman, 35, and Akter Mia, 45, both belonging to villages under Nasirnagar upazila. Eyewitnesses said that both the victims had tried to stop the clash.

Brahmanbaria Police Superintendent Mohammad Abdur Rouf said the clash erupted over previous enmity at Goalnagar village in the upazila, leading to the deaths of two.

Local people and police personnel said enmity had been brewing between the supporters of BNP activist Rahim Talukdar and independent candidate Kashem Mia over the 13th Parliamentary election.

Tension reached a tipping point on the election day, when the Army detained pro-Talukdar activist Zia Mia at Goalnagar High School polling centre over allegations of vote rigging. He was later sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment by a mobile court.

Zia Mia was released from jail three days ago and returned to the area. He suspected that Shishu Mia, a supporter of the independent candidate, had alerted the Army about the alleged rigging, leading to his arrest.

Recently, Zia Mia allegedly assaulted Shishu Mia and snatched his motorcycle.

On 17 March, the two groups had clashed, which had to be eventually settled by local influential people.

On Tuesday morning, fighting restarted between the supporters of BNP-backed Rahim Talukdar and independent candidate-backed Kashem Mia as the tension reached its peak.

Several hundred people from Laluartuku, Dakshindia, Shibpur, Jamarbali, Maijkhola, Kadamtali, Goyalnagar, Machhma and Rampur villages, equipped with local lethal weapons joined in, turning the area into a battleground.

Habibur Rahman, imam at the local mosque, and Akter Mia died on the spot, and their bodies were sent to the Sadar Hospital Morgue for autopsy. 

Many others were injured in chase and counter-chase and brick-batting. They were taken to local hospitals, and the Sadar Hospital.

On information, police from Nasirnagar Police Station and Chatalpar outpost rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further violence.