Youth League Leader Stabbed Over Extortion Protest

In Kalir Bazar, located in the Adarsha Sadar area of Comilla, a young political leader and his cousin were critically injured in a stabbing attack on Wednesday evening after attempting to intervene against ongoing extortion activities. Both victims were admitted to Comilla Medical College Hospital for urgent treatment.

The incident has raised concerns among local residents over the rising tension between community members and politically affiliated groups.

Police Response and Investigation

Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Comilla Kotwali Model Police Station, Touhidul Anwar, stated on Thursday, 19 February, that a formal complaint had been filed. “Preliminary findings indicate that this stems from a longstanding dispute between two factions. A detailed report will be provided following the ongoing investigation,” he said.

Victims

The injured have been identified as Md. Umar Faruk Bhuiya and his cousin Taiful Haque. Umar Faruk Bhuiya, 30, is the son of Abdul Malek Bhuiya and resides at No. 1 South Kalibazar, Raicho Bhuiya House, Comilla. Taiful Haque, 25, is the son of Shamsul Haque.

According to the complaint, a man named Masum has been operating extortion at the local CNG auto-rickshaw stand for a prolonged period. Umar Faruk reportedly attempted to obstruct Masum’s activities, which provoked Masum and his associates to launch a violent attack in front of Umar Faruk’s residence on the evening of 18 February.

Umar Faruk described the attack, saying, “Masum and his associates used machetes and switchgears to assault me. When my cousin tried to intervene, he was attacked as well.” Taiful Haque added, “We were standing near our home when the assailants arrived on motorcycles. They repeatedly struck my brother, and when I tried to stop them, I was attacked too.”

Alleged Attackers

The written complaint lists the following individuals as involved:

The complaint alleges that the attackers are linked with local Awami League and Chhatra League networks. Efforts to contact Masum by phone were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

Medical Status of Victims

Police have described the incident as symptomatic of wider disputes over extortion and local political tensions. The victims are currently under medical supervision, with their conditions reported as stable. Authorities have assured that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted to clarify the circumstances and hold perpetrators accountable.