A long-running land dispute in Noakhali has reportedly escalated into a night-time attack on three brothers’ homes, with allegations of vandalism, assault and robbery. The incident took place at around 9 pm on Thursday, 8 October, at the Ismail Byapari residence in Purba Eojbalia village, under Eojbalia Union in Noakhali Sadar Upazila.
According to the alleged victims, the attack occurred after police had visited the area following a clash between two sides over the ownership and possession of a plot of land. The family claims that more than 100 armed men arrived at their homes after the police left, damaged property, assaulted residents and took away mobile phones, cash and gold jewellery. The allegations have yet to be independently verified.
Local residents said the dispute centres on 12 decimals of land purchased by Nurul Huda, son of the late Ismail, from Hasan, son of the late Shahidul Islam. Both men are from the same village. Following the purchase, Hasan’s brothers, Hossain and Jabed, allegedly obstructed Nurul Huda’s attempts to take possession of the land.
Several attempts were reportedly made to resolve the disagreement through village arbitration. However, according to local accounts, Hossain and Jabed declined to participate in the proposed meetings.
The dispute intensified on Thursday afternoon when Hossain and Jabed allegedly attempted to construct a house on the contested plot. Nurul Huda and his brothers objected, leading to a physical confrontation between the two sides. At least seven people were injured in the clash, according to the report.
Police subsequently visited the scene after receiving a call through Bangladesh’s national emergency service, 999. However, Nurul Huda alleged that the situation deteriorated after officers left the area.
He claimed that approximately 100 armed men descended on the homes of the three brothers at around 9 pm. The attackers allegedly vandalised their houses, assaulted family members and stole valuables. Nurul Huda further accused Hossain and Jabed of hiring the assailants to carry out the attack. Neither the alleged involvement of the two men nor the reported hiring of attackers has been independently established.
One of the alleged victims, Nurul Huda’s brother Maulana Nuruddin, described a frightening experience during the incident. He said the attackers damaged his home and dragged him outside, allegedly preparing to kill him.
According to Nuruddin, his wife intervened and pleaded with the assailants by holding their feet in an attempt to save her husband. He said she managed to secure his release during the confrontation.
Nuruddin also alleged that the attackers took his newly purchased mobile phone, Tk 45,000 in cash and a pair of earrings from the house. The total value of the property reportedly taken from the three households has not been established.
Eojbalia Union Panel Chairman Nurul Amin said local representatives had visited the area following the earlier clash and urged both sides to settle the dispute through arbitration. However, their efforts had not produced a resolution.
He said the two sides continued to engage in fighting and vandalism despite attempts to encourage a peaceful settlement. His remarks suggest that the disagreement had persisted despite intervention by local representatives.
Hossain, one of the men accused of involvement in the incident, denied responsibility for the alleged attack and vandalism. He offered a different account of the afternoon’s confrontation, claiming that his side had attempted to build a house on ancestral land when the opposing party attacked them, leaving them injured and requiring hospital treatment.
Hossain said he did not know who had damaged Nurul Huda’s family homes and maintained that he and his associates were at the hospital at the time. He denied any involvement in the alleged night-time attack.
Officer-in-Charge of Sudharam Model Police Station Nazrul Islam confirmed that a police team had visited the location after receiving an emergency call during the earlier clash. He said officers were looking into who had carried out the alleged vandalism after the police team left the scene.
The investigation will be crucial in establishing the circumstances surrounding the reported attack, identifying those responsible and determining whether any property was stolen. The competing accounts also leave questions about the underlying land dispute unresolved.
The incident highlights the potential consequences of prolonged disputes over land ownership and possession when attempts at mediation fail. Establishing the legal status of the contested plot, investigating the allegations impartially and preventing further violence will be essential to resolving the matter peacefully.
