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Saturday | October 03, 2026 | Dhaka

1 killed, 30 injured in Sylhet shrine clash

 Sylhet Bureau
 Published: 12:01 AM, 03 October 2026

A young man was killed and at least 30 people were injured in a clash between two groups over control of a shrine and mosque in South Surma upazila of Sylhet district.

The incident occurred on Friday after Juma prayers in front of the Hazrat Shah Tayyab Sailani (RA) Mosque and Eidgah in the Choker Bazar area of Silam Union.

The deceased, Rusel Ahmed, 23, was the son of Sharuk Miah of the same area. His body has been kept at the morgue of Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital.

Ashrafuzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of South Surma Police Station, confirmed the matter.
Earlier, on August 22, the two groups had clashed over the same dispute, leaving 30 people, including police personnel, injured.

According to police and local sources, a long-standing dispute exists between two factions from Sheikhpara village in Silam over the management of the Hazrat Shah Tayyab Sailani (RA) Waqf Estate.

On Friday, after Juma prayers, members of both groups gathered at the mosque. An altercation soon escalated into a clash, with both sides using locally made weapons and throwing bricks. Rusel was killed during the confrontation, which lasted nearly two hours.

South Surma Police Station OC Ashrafuzzaman said, “One person named Rusel died in the clash. The scene of the incident falls under the jurisdiction of Moglabazar Police Station. Police from Moglabazar are present there, and assistance has also been sought from South Surma Police Station to bring the situation under control.”

Moglabazar Police Station OC Monirul Islam said, “The two groups clashed after Juma prayers. The situation in the area remains tense. Additional police have been deployed in the area to bring the situation under control.”

Meanwhile, on July 29, the Waqf Administration under the Ministry of Religious Affairs approved a nine-member committee to manage the Waqf estate. The committee appointed Mohammad Abdul Malik, MP for Sylhet-3, as president and the South Surma Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) as vice-president. Fazlu Miah was appointed as the mutawalli (administrator) of the committee.

A dispute subsequently arose between the two factions over the committee.
Later, Shah Abdul Mannan filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legitimacy of the committee. Following a hearing on August 16, the High Court upheld the newly approved committee.

However, it temporarily suspended the activities of Mutawalli Fazlu Miah and directed Abed Raja to assume his responsibilities.

Local sources said tensions had been building in the area since then.
At least 30 others were injured in the clash. The injured were taken to Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital for treatment.