Youth Worker Killed in Feni Land Dispute, Seven Arrested

Feni’s Chhagalnaiya Upazila witnessed a deadly clash on Saturday night over the excavation of agricultural soil, resulting in the death of a local Jubo Dal (Youth League) activist, Abu Ahmad (37). Two others were critically injured, and police have arrested seven individuals, including a leader of the Chhatra Dal (Student League).

The incident occurred at around 3:00 am in the Purba Shilua area of Pathannagar Union, near the Contractor Mosque. Abu Ahmad, a resident of Purba Shimulia and the son of Abul Kashem, was confirmed dead by hospital authorities following the clash. Locals described him as an active member of the BNP-affiliated Jubo Dal.

The injured include Alauddin Sujon (30), son of Zainal Abedin from Purba Pathannagar, and the deceased’s elder brother, Nurul Alam Kala (40). Sujon has been transferred to Dhaka for advanced medical care, while Kala remains under treatment at Feni General Hospital.

Eyewitnesses and police reports indicate that soil extraction from agricultural land had been occurring clandestinely at night for several weeks, despite restrictions imposed by the Upazila administration. Tensions had been mounting between two BNP factions in the area over the issue. On Saturday night, the simmering discord erupted into a violent confrontation, leaving three individuals seriously wounded.

According to Chhagalnaiya Police Officer-in-Charge, Mohammad Shaheen Mia, “The dispute over soil excavation escalated into a violent clash around midnight. One person was killed, and two others sustained severe injuries. The deceased’s body has been sent to Feni 250-Bed General Hospital for post-mortem. The victim’s wife is preparing to file a formal complaint with the local police station.”

Local BNP leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the recent strict stance of Feni’s Member of Parliament, Rafiqul Alam Majnu, to curb illegal soil extraction had been largely ignored by some party members and associated organisations. They alleged that individuals were continuing to remove soil under cover of darkness using heavy machinery, often transporting it to brick kilns.

However, Chhagalnaiya Upazila BNP member secretary Mohammad Alamgir disputed these claims, stating, “The deceased was not affiliated with any BNP wing. Moreover, BNP or its sub-organisations are not involved in these nocturnal soil excavations. These activities are being carried out by unauthorised groups exploiting administrative inaction.”

The following table summarises the arrests related to the incident:

The tragic incident has heightened concerns over illegal soil extraction in the region, highlighting both the political tensions within local BNP factions and the lack of enforcement in agricultural land protection. Residents have urged authorities to enforce regulations strictly to prevent further violence.