Two dead, over 100 injured in Nasirnagar clash

Two people, including a mosque imam, have been killed and more than 100 others injured in violent clashes in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district.

Inspector Abul Kalam Azad, in charge of Chatalpar Investigation Centre, confirmed the deaths and described the situation as “still volatile.” He said police have yet to fully reach the area and bring the violence under control due to its remote location.

Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Shah Md Abdur Rauf said that during the clash, Habibullah, the imam of a local mosque, was struck by a spear and later died at Ashtagram Upazila Health Complex in neighbouring Kishoreganj district.

Another victim, Akhtar Mia, was also fatally injured by a spear and died on the spot. His body remained at the scene at the time of reporting.

The clashes are linked to a longstanding dispute between supporters of BNP leader and newly elected MP Rahim Talukdar and those of defeated independent candidate Kamruzzaman Mamun.

Akhtar Mia was a supporter of Rahim Talukdar, while Habibullah supported Kamruzzaman Mamun, police said.

According to law enforcement and local sources, the violence erupted in Goalnagar union, a remote river-surrounded area, when rival groups attacked each other with local weapons such as spears, bows, and arrows.

Witnesses said the clash appeared premeditated, with both sides mobilising supporters from nearby villages. The fighting quickly spread across multiple villages.

Doctors at Nasirnagar Upazila Health Complex said dozens of injured people were brought in for treatment.

Resident Medical Officer Shafiqul Islam said, “Two critically injured individuals were referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment,” while many others were treated locally for injuries caused by spears, sticks, and other weapons.

According to SP Shah Md Abdur Rauf, the conflict dates back to the national election held on February 12, when a BNP supporter, Ziaur Rahman, was detained over alleged irregularities at a polling centre and later sentenced to 10 days in jail by a mobile court.

His associates suspected that Shishu Mia, a supporter of Kamruzzaman Mamun, was behind the arrest, triggering tensions between the two groups. Although local mediation had temporarily eased the situation, underlying disputes remained unresolved.

Police said additional forces have been deployed to restore order.
Earlier, on March 17, at least 25 people were injured in similar clashes over the same dispute.