Hatia gunfight killed 5 people and injured 10 today to take control of char land in Hatia of Noakhali district. The clash occurred around 10:00 AM in Jaglar Char village, on the border of wards 7 and 8 of Sukhchar union.
Police identified one of the dead as Alauddin, 40, son of the Mahiuddin of Cherang Bari in Char Aman Ullah village under Sukhchar union. The identities of the other four victims could not be confirmed immediately.
Hatia Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Saiful Alam confirmed the incident, saying one body was taken to Noakhali General Hospital while four others were recovered from the scene.
According to local sources, the land in Jaglar Char has not been officially leased by the government. Taking advantage of this, after August 5, a group known as the Kopa Shamsu gang from Jahajmara Union allegedly sold portions of the land. Later, a rival group led by Alauddin from Sukhchar Union attempted to take control and reportedly sold some plots at higher prices. Tensions escalated as both sides tried to assert dominance and sell the same land.
Residents alleged that Alauddin, described as a notorious gang leader, had links with local political figures, including former Sukhchar Union BNP president Belayet Hossain Selim, Awami League leader Nizam Member, and BNP leader Nabi. With alleged backing, Alauddin’s group sought to evict the Kopa Shamsu gang, leading to repeated disputes and rising hostility.
On Tuesday morning, the confrontation turned violent as the Kopa Shamsu and Alauddin groups engaged in a gun battle. Alauddin and four others were shot. Alauddin was taken to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The other four victims died at the scene.
Local residents said three armed groups — Farid Commander’s group, the Shamsu group, and the Alauddin group — were involved in the shooting. They claimed both the Shamsu group leader and Alauddin were killed, while Farid and his associates fled.
Residents also alleged that the char area has remained lawless for a long time, with houses set on fire during clashes and armed groups extorting large sums of money. Due to the remoteness of the area, they fear the casualty count could rise.
Police said reaching the remote char area took time, with officers arriving around 4:30pm. “One body is at Noakhali General Hospital and four have been recovered from the scene. The exact causes of death will be confirmed after autopsies,” the officer-in-charge said.
Attempts to contact former BNP leader Belayet Hossain Selim for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone was found switched off.
PT/ra
