A violent clash over the control of fish farms in Banshkhali Upazila of Chattogram has left one man dead and at least 20 others injured, according to police and local sources. The confrontation, which stemmed from a long-running dispute between two local groups, broke out in the early hours of Friday and prompted a police response to restore order.
The incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. on Friday (31 July) near the embankment in the West Saral area of Ward No. 1 under Saral Union. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Zillur Rahman, 30, a resident of West Saral.
Family members rushed Zillur Rahman to Chattogram Medical College Hospital after he sustained a gunshot wound during the violence. Doctors on duty declared him dead upon arrival, hospital authorities confirmed.
According to police and local residents, tensions had been simmering for a considerable period over the control of commercially valuable fish farms and salt fields in Saral Union. The dispute involved two rival local groups, commonly referred to as the Mansur Group and the Kabir Group. The disagreement reportedly escalated into a large-scale confrontation during the night.
Witnesses said both sides were armed with firearms, sharp weapons and sticks when the clash erupted. During the violence, Zillur Rahman was struck by gunfire. At least 20 other people also sustained injuries, although officials have not yet released detailed information about their identities or the severity of their conditions.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahmudul Hasan of the Anwara Circle said one person had been killed in the clash. He added that police officers quickly reached the scene, brought the situation under control and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Nurul Alam, the officer-in-charge of the police outpost at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, confirmed that a young man from Banshkhali had been brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
Banshkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Robiul Haque said law enforcement personnel responded immediately after receiving reports of the violence. He stated that efforts were underway to identify and arrest those involved, while investigators were working to establish the precise sequence of events and the underlying cause of the deadly confrontation.
Disputes over the control of fish farms and salt fields have periodically led to tension in parts of coastal Chattogram, where these resources represent an important source of income for local communities. Police said the latest incident remains under investigation, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings.
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