At least five people were killed and eight to ten others injured in a violent shootout over control of land in Jagla Char of Hatiya upazila in Noakhali on Tuesday morning. Police have so far confirmed the identity of only one of the deceased.
The clash occurred around 10:00 am on Tuesday (December 23) in Jagla Char village, located between wards 7 and 8 of Sukhchar Union, Hatia upazila.
The deceased identified by police is Alauddin (40), son of Mohiuddin of Cherang Bari in Char Aman Ullah village, Ward 6 of Sukhchar Union. Hatia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Alam confirmed the information.
Local sources said Jagla Char remains officially unsettled land, creating repeated conflicts among armed groups seeking control. After August 5, members of the Kopa Shamsu group from Jahajmara Union reportedly sold portions of the char land. Later, the Alauddin group from Sukhchar Union attempted to seize the area and allegedly sold the same land at higher prices, escalating tensions between the rival groups.
It is alleged that Alauddin, who was involved in char occupation, maintained close links with former Sukhchar Union BNP president Belayet Hossain Selim, Awami League leader Nizam Member, and BNP leader Nabi. With their alleged backing, the Kopa Shamsu group was driven out and later regrouped, leading to repeated confrontations over control of the land.
On Tuesday morning, a fresh clash erupted between the Kopa Shamsu group and the Alauddin group, which later turned into a gunfight. Alauddin and four others sustained critical gunshot injuries. Alauddin was taken to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The bodies of the other four victims were found at the scene.
Local residents claimed that three armed groups — Farid Commander’s group, Shamsu Bahini and Alauddin Bahini — exchanged gunfire during the clash. According to them, the leaders of both Shamsu Bahini and Alauddin Bahini were killed, while Farid Commander allegedly fled with his followers.
Residents said the char area has remained unstable for a long time, with frequent armed clashes, arson attacks on houses, and looting of large sums of money. They warned that the death toll could rise due to the remoteness of the area and delays in emergency response.
Local resident Hasan Uddin told reporters that the area has been under terror for months. “Houses have been burned, and armed groups have looted lakhs of taka. Today’s clash was the result of long-standing rivalry over the char,” he said.
Attempts to contact former Sukhchar Union BNP president Belayet Hossain Selim for comment were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was found switched off.
OC Md Saiful Alam said one body has been kept at Noakhali General Hospital, while four bodies were recovered from the scene. “Because of the remote location, police reached the area around 4:30 pm. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after post-mortem examinations,” he added.
