Two people were killed and at least a hundred others injured in a clash involving several thousand villagers in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj, in defiance of Section 144.
The violence also saw at least 50 shops, several vehicles, and a private hospital vandalized, looted, and set on fire.
The clash erupted on Monday between 3pm and 7:30pm, involving residents of Anmonu, Purbo Timirpur, Pashchim Timirpur, and Chargao villages.
The deceased were identified as Faruk Mia, 42, an ambulance driver from Timirpur, and Lims Mia, 25 from Anmonu.
According to local sources, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ruhul Amin imposed Section 144 around 4pm to control the escalating tension, but chase-and-counter chase incidents soon spread across Gazir Tek, Matsyajibi Para, Chargao, and Pashchim Bazar areas of Nabiganj town.
The violence reportedly stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Ashahid Ali Asha of Anmonu and Khasru Mia Talukder of Timirpur. Both sides had earlier held separate public gatherings, and the clash began in the afternoon near Gazir Tek point in town.
Local traders said the area turned into a battlefield as both sides hurled bricks and local weapons at each other. Amid the chaos, a group carried out planned attacks and looting. Several shops and vehicles were torched, with losses estimated at several crores of taka.
Around 7pm, the army and additional police forces were deployed to restore order. The situation gradually calmed.
Former MP Sheikh Sujat Mia, BNP leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Chowdhury, Jamaat leader Shahjahan Ali, and Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Abul Hossain Jibon took local initiatives to resolve the unrest.
Nabiganj police station OC Sheikh Md Kamruzzaman said: “We’ve called for a resolution. Investigations into the clashes and looting are underway. The situation remains under tight watch by law enforcement.”
UNO Ruhul Amin said over 2,000 people had gathered in an agitated state despite the Section 144 ban.
“The army arrived at 7pm and was able to bring the situation under control,” he added.
