Two people were shot during a clash between rival groups in Charlapang village of Nabinagar upazila in Brahmanbaria on Saturday night, with police investigating allegations that armed men had been brought in from neighbouring Narsingdi district to carry out an attack.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a long-running dispute over a village road and local influence. The injured have been identified as Ful Mia, 60, son of the late Sundar Ali, and Umme Hani, 22, wife of Suman Mia. Both are residents of Charlapang.
According to police and local residents, tensions in the village had been building since construction of a road in the area began. Ahid Mia, a local resident, had reportedly opposed the construction, leading to a dispute with other villagers.
The disagreement later took another turn after Muslim Mia, a resident of the village, purchased a tractor to provide paid ploughing services to farmers. Local residents said the development created further tension over tractor-related business and concerns about influence in the area. Ahid Mia and his brother Ubaydul Mia were reportedly angered by the change.
Police said that, amid the existing tensions, Ahid Mia allegedly brought a group of armed men from Mirzarchar village in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi to Charlapang on Saturday night. An altercation subsequently broke out between the two sides and escalated into a clash and gunfire.
Ful Mia and Umme Hani were shot in the right hand during the confrontation. They were initially taken to Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex, where they received emergency treatment before being transferred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for further treatment. Their condition was described as serious.
Roksana Khatun, an assistant community medical officer at Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex, said the two injured people had been brought to the facility on Saturday night with gunshot wounds to their right hands. After receiving initial treatment, they were referred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for more advanced care.
The incident has added to tensions surrounding a dispute that police say involves both the village road and a struggle for local influence. The allegation that outsiders were brought in to carry out an armed attack is also being examined as part of the investigation.
Attempts were made to contact Ahid Mia and Muslim Mia by telephone to obtain their comments on the clash, but both phones were found to be switched off. Their responses could therefore not be obtained.
Nabinagar police station Officer-in-Charge Morshedul Alam Chowdhury said the two sides had been involved in an ongoing dispute over the village’s unpaved road and local dominance. He said police were looking into the allegation that hired men had been brought from Narsingdi and that efforts were continuing to detain those involved in the incident.
Police have continued their operation to identify and apprehend people suspected of involvement in the clash. Further details about possible arrests were not immediately available.
