A terrifying night unfolded in Noakhali’s Begumganj upazila when a masked gang launched a sudden armed assault, opening indiscriminate gunfire and detonating crude bombs in a crowded market. The violent incident, which took place late Saturday night around 10:00 PM at Bangla Bazar in Zirtoli Union, left a school teacher and two shop workers wounded by pellets.
The victims have been identified as 56-year-old Rajibuzzaman, an assistant headmaster at local Shamsunnahar High School, alongside two young shop employees, 17-year-old Md Sakib and 18-year-old Mohammad Nazim Uddin. All three sustained pellet injuries across various parts of their bodies as chaos erupted through the commercial hub.
According to local accounts, a group of ten to twelve masked assailants emerged from the eastern alley of the market onto the main Noakhali-Lakshmipur highway. They immediately heightened panic by detonating several crude bombs, locally known as cocktails, before firing indiscriminately into the surroundings.
Saiful Islam, a local merchant, recounted that the attackers set off two explosive devices directly in front of his shop before retreating while continuing to discharge firearms. The sudden barrage caught pedestrians and workers off guard. Mr Rajibuzzaman was struck by pellets in his back, chest, and hands; his brother-in-law, Md Suman, confirmed that the educator is currently receiving treatment at home.
Meanwhile, the two younger victims were rushed to hospital facilities. Dr Rajib Uddin Chowdhury, resident medical officer at the Noakhali 250-Bed General Hospital, stated that Sakib and Nazim arrived at the facility around 1:00 AM bearing pellet wounds and were immediately admitted for medical care.
Officers from Begumganj Police Station, led by Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shamsuzzaman, inspected the crime scene following the reports. The police chief confirmed that three individuals sustained injuries from pellets and bomb shrapnel. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators behind the attack, noting that formal legal steps will be initiated upon receiving official complaints from the affected families.
