14 Injured in Faridpur Land Dispute Clash; Shops, Homes Vandalized

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A violent clash erupted Saturday evening in Boalmari, Faridpur, over a long-standing land dispute, leaving at least 14 people injured and five shops and homes vandalized. The confrontation, which involved more than a hundred individuals wielding local weapons, occurred between rival factions in the Komaleshwordi Charpara Bazaar area of Dadpur Union.

The incident unfolded between 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM as tensions escalated over a 21.50-decimal plot of land. Several injured individuals were admitted to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex, while others received primary medical treatment.

At the heart of the dispute is a prolonged conflict between Billal Hossain, a local resident, and Dadpur Union Parishad Chairman Mosharraf Hossain. According to police and local sources, Chairman Mosharraf and his associates allegedly forcibly occupied a portion of the disputed land in 2020, subsequently constructing a permanent structure. Multiple lawsuits concerning the land are pending between the two parties.

The rivalry is further underscored by their political affiliations. Chairman Mosharraf Hossain serves as the Assistant Office Secretary for the Union Awami League, although he reportedly campaigned for the defeated BNP candidate in the last parliamentary election for the Faridpur-1 constituency. His adversary, Billal Hossain, holds the position of Religious Affairs Secretary for the Dadpur Union BNP.

Local residents reported that a scheduled arbitration meeting to resolve the dispute, set for Friday afternoon, failed when Chairman Mosharraf’s faction did not attend. Following this, local individuals who had gathered for the arbitration reportedly locked the disputed structure, triggering heightened tension in the area by Saturday afternoon. The situation culminated in attacks on Billal’s supporters’ properties, including Shiru Matubber’s fertilizer shop and the homes of Zahidul Islam and Enamul Chowdhury, before the large-scale clash ensued.

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Billal Hossain Molla asserted that despite a High Court ruling in his favor, he has been unable to reclaim possession of the land, which he claims remains under Chairman Mosharraf’s control. He accused the chairman’s supporters of vandalizing four to five homes of his supporters, including Shiru Matubber’s shop, and assaulting his people.

Chairman Mosharraf Hossain, however, vehemently denied the allegations, stating that Billal and his associates had locked his house and assaulted his people. He accused them of criminal acts and taking the law into their own hands, subsequently making baseless claims.

Boalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain confirmed that the clashes stemmed from a land-related dispute between the local UP chairman and another party. Police swiftly responded to the scene and brought the situation under control. Additional police forces have since been deployed to the area, ensuring calm, OC Hossain added. As of Sunday at 11:00 AM, no formal written complaint had been lodged with the police. OC Hossain stated that investigations would commence and legal action would be taken once a complaint is filed.