Group Clash in B.Baria Announced via Speaker Leaves 2 Dead, Including Imam

A brutal clash between two rival factions in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria, left two people dead on Tuesday morning, including a local mosque imam. The violence, which erupted around 10:00 AM in Goalnagar village, also left at least 50 others injured and has sparked widespread tension across the upazila.

The deceased have been identified as Maulana Habibur Rahman, 40, the imam of Goalnagar Schoolpara Jame Mosque and a member of the "Boro" group, and an individual named Akhtar Mia. Local sources reported that the conflict escalated dramatically after instructions were broadcast over loudspeakers, inciting members of the "Boro" and "Baidda" groups to join the fight with lethal weapons.

The roots of the violence trace back to the 13th National Election. Ziaur Rahman, a supporter of the BNP and member of the Baidda group, was detained by the army at Goalnagar High School for alleged irregularities and sentenced to 10 days in prison.

Following his release, Ziaur reportedly blamed Shishu Mia of the Boro group for his detention, leading to a series of retaliatory attacks, including the snatching of a motorcycle.

Tensions reached a breaking point this morning when the Baidda group reportedly launched a pre-planned assault on the homes of the Boro group. Maulana Habibur Rahman was fatally struck by a spear while attempting to mediate and stop the violence.

He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the Ashtagram Upazila Health Complex. Akhtar Mia was also killed during the peak of the confrontation.

Residential Medical Officer Shofiqul Islam of Nasirnagar Upazila Health Complex confirmed that several injured persons arrived in critical condition and were subsequently referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf confirmed the fatalities and stated that additional police units, alongside army personnel, have been deployed to restore order. Viral videos on social media showed the use of microphones to coordinate the attack, which police are now using as evidence in their investigation.

Goalnagar Union Parishad Chairman Azharul Huq Chowdhury noted that despite earlier attempts to de-escalate following a smaller clash on March 17, deep seated regional rivalries fueled today’s tragedy. Authorities remain on high alert in the area to prevent further retaliatory violence.