Staff Reporter :
In response to the tense situation in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur, Bangladesh, four platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain law and order.
The move comes following the deaths of two siblings, which have heightened tensions in the area.
Md. Shariful Islam, the public relations officer of BGB headquarters, confirmed the deployment to the media on Wednesday afternoon.
“The four platoons of BGB, along with guidance from several magistrates, initiated patrolling activities on Wednesday in Baliakandi and Baghate Bazar, covering Faridpur Sadar and Madhukhali upazilas,” added the official.
Meanwhile, Faridpur police superintendent Morshed Alam informed the media that eight individuals were detained on Tuesday for their suspected involvement in the incident.
The tension erupted on Thursday evening when agitated local Hindus allegedly attacked construction workers at a school, resulting in the deaths of two people and leaving several others critically injured. The violence followed a fire at a temple in
Panchapalli village, Dumain Union of the Upazila.
The incident at the Kali Temple near the primary school in Panchapalli Krishna Nagar occurred on April 18. Suspicions arose regarding the involvement of seven-day labourers who were working at the primary school adjacent to the temple.
Subsequently, several youths reportedly subjected them to brutal physical assaults, confining them in a school room. Following allegations that the day laborers were responsible for the temple fire, the enraged villagers attacked them, resulting in the tragic deaths of two siblings, Arshadul and Ashraful, and leaving five others severely injured.
The deceased brothers were identified as the sons of Shahjahan Khan from Chouperghat village in Naopara Union. Two of the injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Despite the initial accusations, the police investigation revealed no evidence linking the day labourers to the temple fire.
In response to the incident, several thousand demonstrators took to the streets and initiated road blockades on Tuesday morning.
As tensions escalated, the situation became increasingly challenging for local authorities to manage. Demonstrators expressed their grievances by chanting slogans, threatening to obstruct roads, and even burning tires.
After seven hours of intense unrest, the police eventually managed to regain control of the situation around 4:00 p.m. However, it was not without casualties, as at least 15 demonstrators sustained injuries during clashes with law enforcement. The police resorted to firing shots and deploying tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
