Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 24th March 2026, 5:02 PM
Pabna, Bangladesh – Tensions between rival factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Pabna’s Sujanagar and Ishwardi upazilas have escalated, claiming a second life and resulting in 31 arrests. The latest casualty, 60-year-old Munshur Khan, succumbed to injuries at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Tuesday at around 3:00 pm.
The unrest began over local dominance disputes between supporters of former Haatkhali Union Chhatra Dal president Rafiul Islam and followers of BNP supporter Islam Pramanik from Vitbila village, Manikhat Union. According to local residents, skirmishes erupted on Sunday night, during which Pramanik’s supporters gathered in the area armed with sticks, prompting a retaliatory attack by Rafiul Islam’s faction using both weapons and sticks.
During the confrontation in Vitbila Westpara village on Monday morning, 40-year-old housewife China Khatun, wife of Shukur Ali, was shot dead on the spot. Munshur Khan was among the ten others injured and later died while undergoing treatment. Both deceased were reportedly aligned with Islam Pramanik’s faction.
| Date & Time | Location | Incident | Casualties | Injured | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday night, 23 Mar | Vitbila, Sujanagar | Rival factions clash over local dominance | None initially | Several injured | Houses damaged |
| Monday morning, 24 Mar | Vitbila Westpara | Gunfire erupts | 1 dead (China Khatun) | 10 injured | Limited property damage |
| Tuesday, 24 Mar | Rajshahi Medical College Hospital | Munshur Khan dies from injuries | 1 dead | – | – |
| Monday, 23 Mar | Ishwardi Railgate & Post Office Mor | Supporters of Habibur Rahman vs Zakaria Pintoo clash | None | 30+ injured | 15 motorcycles vandalised, 6 set on fire |
Meanwhile, in Ishwardi, rival supporters of district BNP convener Habibur Rahman and former joint secretary of the upazila BNP, as well as BNP “rebel” candidate Zakaria Pintoo for Pabna-4 (Ishwardi–Atgharia), engaged in violent pursuits and clashes near the Railgate and Post Office Mor areas. During the melee, Rahman’s election office was vandalised, at least 15 motorcycles were destroyed, and six were set ablaze. At least 30 people sustained injuries.
Police have detained a total of 31 individuals in connection with the incidents: 12 in Sujanagar and 19 in Ishwardi. They are currently being interrogated, though no formal cases had been filed by Tuesday evening.
Sujanagar Circle Assistant Superintendent of Police Sadik Ahmed stated that additional forces were deployed to stabilise the area. He confirmed that the deceased Munshur Khan had been admitted with gunshot wounds, pending forensic confirmation. Meanwhile, Ishwardi police officer-in-charge Md. Mominuzzaman emphasised that no complaints had yet been filed, and the registration of cases would follow upon receipt of statements.
Residents expressed deep concern over the violence, calling for dialogue between BNP factions to prevent further bloodshed.
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