Two dead in market naming dispute as police hunt over 200 suspects in Kishoreganj
Photo Collected
Four days after a violent clash over the naming of a local market left two men dead in Bhairab, Kishoreganj, police have registered two separate murder cases naming 89 individuals as suspects, with an additional 130 unidentified persons also under investigation. Despite the formal filing of these cases on Friday night at Bhairab Police Station, law enforcement confirmed on Saturday that no arrests have been made thus far.
The casualties, identified as Masud Miah and Hiron Miah of Mirarchar village, succumbed to injuries sustained during the confrontation last Monday. The legal proceedings were initiated by the victims’ families, with Masud’s wife, Taslima Begum, filing a case naming 49 suspects—led by Zillu Miah of Akbarnagar—and 70 unidentified individuals. A second case concerning the death of Hiron Miah was filed by Ratan Miah, naming 40 suspects, including prime accused Lal Miah, alongside 60 unidentified individuals.
The delay in filing the complaints, which took four days, was attributed to the families’ focus on funeral rites and the need to accurately compile the list of perpetrators. Meanwhile, residents of the affected Akbarnagar village remain in a state of deep apprehension. According to local police, the primary suspects have abandoned their homes to evade capture, leaving the village largely deserted.
The unrest has paralyzed the local economy, as the disputed market—a vital regional hub—remains mostly closed. Tensions have been further exacerbated by reports of ongoing vandalism and looting in Akbarnagar, alongside rumors of further mobilization in the area. Fire service officials have noted that the mass exodus of residents hindered efforts to protect properties from arson in the immediate aftermath of the violence.
The roots of the dispute trace back to 2023, when the installation of a Road and Highways Department signpost bearing only the name “Akbarnagar Market” ignited long-standing tensions over the site, which had been known as the “Akbarnagar-Mirarchar Market” since 1991. Despite a mediation effort led by local Member of Parliament and State Minister for Textiles and Jute, Shoriful Alam, just one day prior to the violence, the fragile peace collapsed into a fatal confrontation.
Authorities have deployed 25 police officers to patrol Akbarnagar, where they are actively questioning individuals entering the area. The Bhairab Upazila administration is currently documenting property damage to facilitate government assistance for affected families, while simultaneously holding peace meetings with community leaders from both villages to prevent further bloodshed.
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