Eight Injured as Rival Football Fans Clash in Narayanganj

A fierce clash between rival Brazil and Argentina football supporters escalated into violence on Tuesday night in the Hajiganj area of Fatullah, Narayanganj, leaving at least eight people injured. The confrontation featured house attacks, vandalism, looting, and crude bomb explosions, spreading widespread panic across the neighbourhood.

Local residents revealed that the animosity stemmed from arguments during the World Cup tournament. Initial friction began following a defeat for Brazil, when an Argentina supporter named Habib engaged in a heated altercation with a Brazilian fan. At the time, another Brazil supporter, Apu, stepped in to pacify both parties and defuse the immediate tension.

The peace proved short-lived. Following the outcome of the tournament’s final match, rivalries flared up once again. On Tuesday night, around 10:00 pm, the longstanding dispute turned violent. A armed group of 40 to 50 individuals, allegedly led by Habib, launched a coordinated assault armed with improvised weapons.

The assailants targeted Apu’s residence alongside several adjacent houses, vandalising properties and reportedly looting valuables. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple crude bombs exploding during the attack, causing residents to panic and take cover.

As the violence escalated, local residents organised a collective defence, confronting the attackers and forcing them to retreat from the area. However, the skirmishes left at least eight individuals from both sides with injuries, all of whom received medical attention following the retreat of the assailants.

Upon receiving reports of the disturbance, officers from Fatullah Model Police Station arrived swiftly at the scene to restore order. Police patrols were subsequently deployed to secure the neighbourhood and prevent further retaliatory violence.

Confirming the incident, Mohammad Mahbubur Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Fatullah Model Police Station, stated that the conflict arose directly from prior disputes surrounding football support. He confirmed that the situation in Hajiganj is now stable and under control. Law enforcement authorities have launched a formal investigation into the violence, aiming to identify all perpetrators involved in the attack, vandalism, and explosive detonations to ensure appropriate legal action is taken.