A violent confrontation between two factions linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over control of the garment waste trade—locally known as jhut—has left at least three people, including a child, injured by gunfire in Narayanganj’s Fatulla area. The incident has prompted police to arrest three leaders associated with the party’s youth wing in connection with the clash.
The arrests were confirmed on Wednesday (15 April) by Officer-in-Charge Md Mahbub of Fatulla Police Station. He said the suspects were detained during an overnight raid at around 1:30am from a hotel in the Kuakata area of Patuakhali district, identified as Hotel Grand Safa Inn.
Arrested individuals
| Name |
Age |
Position |
| Monir Hossain |
50 |
President, Enayetnagar Union Jubo Dal |
| Khairul Alam Jasim |
49 |
General Secretary, Enayetnagar Union Jubo Dal |
| Lion Mahmud Akash |
22 |
Local Jubo Dal activist |
Police said all three individuals are linked to BNP’s youth wing in the Enayetnagar Union area. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether more arrests are expected, stating that operational details will be released in due course.
Dispute over garment waste turns violent
The violence erupted on the night of 9 April in the Chandni Housing area of Shasan Gaon in Enayetnagar, Fatulla. According to local reports, the confrontation began over control of jhut—discarded fabric and textile remnants collected from garment factories, which form a lucrative informal recycling trade in Narayanganj’s industrial belt.
What initially began as a dispute over distribution rights quickly escalated into a full-scale armed clash between rival groups allegedly aligned with BNP factions. Witnesses reported gunfire and the explosion of crude explosive devices, commonly referred to as cocktails, during a confrontation that lasted for approximately half an hour.
Panic spread rapidly through the neighbourhood as residents sought shelter amid the violence. At least three people, including a child, sustained bullet injuries and were taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Their conditions have not been officially disclosed.
Case filed and investigation underway
Following the incident, Fatulla Police Station registered a case on charges of attempted murder. Law enforcement agencies subsequently launched a targeted operation to track down those allegedly involved in the violence.
Police officials have confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing and that further arrests are possible depending on evidence gathered during the inquiry.
Background: competition over informal jhut economy
The incident underscores longstanding tensions surrounding the control of the jhut trade in industrial hubs such as Narayanganj. The sector, which involves the collection, sorting and resale of discarded garment materials, has developed into a highly competitive informal economy.
Over the years, the trade has frequently been linked to disputes involving local influence networks, with allegations that political affiliations are sometimes intertwined with business rivalries. Authorities have previously expressed concern over recurring episodes of violence connected to competition for control over this sector.
Heightened security and local concern
In the aftermath of the clash and subsequent arrests, police have increased surveillance in the Fatulla area to prevent further unrest. Local residents, meanwhile, have expressed concern over repeated outbreaks of violence linked to commercial disputes with political undertones.
While the arrests represent a significant development in the case, officials have yet to confirm whether additional suspects remain at large or whether further enforcement actions will follow as investigations progress.
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