Desk report,
Woman killed, many injured in exchange of fire in Narsingdi’s char area
A woman was killed in a gunfight between two sides over control of the char area of Raipura upazila in Narsingdi. Five people were injured in the incident, including the gunman. In addition, there was shooting, vandalism and arson at houses. The incident took place in Sayedabad village of Srinagar union of the upazila since early Monday morning. Army and police members have taken to the field to control the situation.
Woman killed, many injured in exchange of fire in Narsingdi’s char area
The deceased woman has been identified as Momena Begum (45). She is the wife of Akhtar Mia of Sayedabad village of Srinagar union of Raipura. The five others injured in the gunfight are Nazimuddin (45), Siam Mia (16), Md. Rana (20), Md. Mahin (20) and Tajul Islam (20). The names and identities of the other injured people could not be confirmed immediately as they were taken to different hospitals. Raipura Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Prabir Kumar Ghosh said that there was an exchange of attacks between Hanif Mia and Ershad’s factions over dominance. A woman was killed and several others were injured. The army and police are working to normalize the situation.
It has been learned that the people of Balurchar and Sayedabad villages have been in a dispute over dominance of Sayedabad Bazaar in Srinagar Union for at least 30 years. The control of that market is in the hands of the people of Hanif Mia’s faction in Sayedabad. Meanwhile, the people of Balurchar also organized under the leadership of Ershad Mia and want to travel to Sayedabad Bazaar regularly. But Hanif’s people do not want to let that happen. Due to this, the people of the two villages got involved in a clash with firearms, tents and other indigenous weapons a few days later.
Hundreds of people of different ages from Balurchar village, armed with firearms, tents and local weapons, attacked Sayedabad Bazar under the leadership of Ershad Mia until 8 am. During this time, many people of the opposition, including women and children, were injured by bullets. Local residents quickly rescued them and took them to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital and the 100-bed Narsingdi District Hospital. The woman named Momena Begum died on the way to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. Later, the doctor in the hospital’s emergency department declared her dead.
When the news of Momena’s death spread, hundreds of people from Hanif Mia’s side, enraged, went to Balurchar village with firearms, tents and local weapons and launched a counterattack. Before this, the people of the village left their homes and moved elsewhere. During this time, their houses were shot at, vandalized and set on fire. However, it is not yet confirmed how many houses were shot at, vandalized and set on fire. Meanwhile, the army and Raipura police station have reached the spot and are trying to bring the situation under control.
Narsingdi Sadar Hospital Resident Medical Officer Farida Gulshanara Kabir said, “The woman who was shot in the chest and hand was brought to our hospital dead. The body has been sent to the hospital morgue. We have also treated five other people who were shot.” ANM Mizanur Rahman, Superintendent of the 100-bed Narsingdi District Hospital, said, “We have treated two people who were shot from Sayedabad, a char area in Raipura. They have been referred to Dhaka for better treatment.”
The mobile phone numbers used by the leaders of the two parties, Hanif Mia and Md. Ershad Mia, were called several times to get their statements on the incident, but the connection was disconnected. Earlier, on the morning of August 22 last year, six people were shot and at least 50 were injured in a clash between two villages over control of the market. Three days after the incident, two murder cases were filed at Raipura Police Station, naming 150 people. Hanif Mia was named as the main accused in both cases.
