Fresh Violence and Bombings Erupt in Shariatpur Following Fatal Clashes Between Political Factions
Photo Collected
JAZIRA, SHARIATPUR — A fresh wave of violence erupted in Mulna Union’s Chardhupur Charkandi area on Wednesday night, just two days after a fatal clash between rival groups left one person dead. Local residents reported that 20 to 25 crude bombs were detonated, followed by widespread vandalism and looting targeting at least 30 homes.
Police and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) launched an operation in the village following reports of the explosions and property damage. Saleh Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jazira Police Station, confirmed that houses were vandalized and multiple blasts occurred. He noted that while law enforcement has secured the area, no formal complaints regarding the Wednesday night incident had been filed as of Thursday.
The unrest follows a violent confrontation on Monday evening, triggered by a longstanding feud over local dominance and land disputes. During that clash, which involved over 100 crude bomb explosions, 70-year-old Mannan Sardar, a supporter of local BNP leader Rezaul Sikdar, was killed. Following the death, Sardar’s son, Anwar Hossain, filed a murder case naming local Awami League leader Tamiz Kha as the prime suspect alongside 87 others. Police have since arrested eight individuals identified in the case, all of whom have been remanded to custody.
Residents described scenes of terror as the explosions rang out late Wednesday. According to allegations from the side of Tamiz Kha, supporters of Rezaul Sikdar retaliated by attacking the homes of Kha and his associates. Kha’s wife, Sufia Begum, claimed that the attackers looted valuables and seized livestock, including cattle and goats, from their properties.
Rezaul Sikdar, the general secretary of the Mulna Union BNP, has categorically denied these allegations. Sikdar characterized the accusations as a fabrication intended to frame his supporters, suggesting that the vandalism was staged to bolster the legal case against them. He further alleged that Tamiz Kha had engaged in extortion and persecution during his time in power.
OC Saleh Ahmed stated that the investigation into the murder of Mannan Sardar remains ongoing and efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects are underway. Police continue to maintain a heavy presence in the village to prevent further escalation.
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