A clash occurred at the under-construction Air Force base on the western side of Cox’s Bazar Airport, resulting in the death of a youth and injuries to several others after Air Force members opened fire.
The incident occurred in Samiti Para under Cox’s Bazar municipality around 12pm on Monday, with ISPR later saying Air Force personnel only fired blanks.
The deceased has been identified as Shihab Kabir Nahid, 30, son of Nasir Uddin, a local businessman.
However, the identities of the injured have not yet been confirmed.
Although police and administrative officials have not provided full details, they have confirmed the incident.
Saiful Islam, in charge of the police box at Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital, said one person was killed, and five others are undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate in a statement said: "The incident originated when an air force provost stopped a local individual at a checkpoint near Biam School for not having the necessary documents for his motorcycle and took him inside the base for questioning."
Following this, approximately 200 local residents from Samiti Para advanced toward the air force base, leading to an intervention by air force personnel. As the number of individuals increased, a clash ensued between air force personnel and some miscreants at the base’s checkpoint area, according to ISPR.
ISPR said the miscreants, allegedly instigated by certain conspiratorial groups, threw bricks and stones at air force personnel, injuring several individuals.
"Among them, four air force members—one officer and three airmen—sustained injuries," ISPR added.
A young man, identified as Shihab Kabir Nahid, was severely injured during the incident and was transported to a local hospital in an air force vehicle, where he later passed away, ISPR said.
To protect the strategically important establishment, air force personnel fired blank rounds, ISPR said, emphasizing that no live ammunition was used against civilians.
ISPR further said certain groups are attempting to tarnish the air force’s reputation by spreading misinformation on social media, falsely claiming that the young man was killed by air force gunfire.
"However, this is untrue. A closer examination of the bullet casings being circulated shows that they are from blank rounds, which are non-lethal and only produce sound," ISPR added.
Confirming the incident, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salauddin said: "One person was killed, and several others were injured. The matter will be discussed with both sides, and necessary action will be taken."
