Five people, including a Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) member, were killed and one was injured when a clash erupted yesterday in Gazinagar of Khagrachhari's Matiranga upazila, between BGB and some villagers over transporting timber.
The deceased are BGB Palashpur zone soldier Md Shaon, villagers Sahab Miah, his two sons Ahmed Ali and Ali Akbar, and Mofiz Miah. Injured Hanif Miah is currently undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
According to witnesses, Ahmed was carrying timber cut down for power lines in a trolley around 11:30am yesterday when a BGB patrol team stopped and questioned him. This led to an altercation between the villagers and BGB.
At one point, the BGB started firing their guns, killing Shaon, Shahab, Ahmed, and Akbar on the spot, while bullet-stricken Mofiz died on his way to the hospital.
However, according to the press release signed by BGB Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam, the villagers surrounded the BGB team when they tried to stop the timber trafficking. BGB fired a blank round and the two sides pushed each other around. At some point, the villagers snatched the weapons from the BGB and started firing indiscriminately, killing five people.
Police have detained two people in this connection whose names were not made public.
Matiranga Circle Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Khorshed Alam said legal action will be taken after investigating the clash and talking with locals.
Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner (DC) Protap Chandra Bishwas said an investigation committee was formed with the additional district magistrate as chief, and the additional superintendent of police and the divisional forest officer as members.
"No further comments can be made until the committee submits its report. Families of the deceased will receive Tk20,000 each from the DC's office," Protap added.
