A longstanding feud between two local factions turned violent on Friday afternoon in Sunamganj’s Jagannathpur upazila, leaving two men hospitalised with gunshot wounds as residents were walking to attend weekly congregational prayers.
The confrontation unfolded at approximately half past twelve in the afternoon in the village of Shaharpara, locally known as Narayanpur, situated within the Syedpur-Shaharpara Union. The sudden discharge of live ammunition sent panic through the rural neighbourhood, catching villagers off guard on their way to the local mosque for the Jummah service.
The victims of the shooting have been identified as seventy-year-old Abdul Hakim, a resident of Narayanpur, and thirty-year-old Misbah Uddin, son of Jilu Ali, from the adjacent village of Tilak. Both sustained gunshot injuries during the chaotic melee. Following the exchange of fire, local residents and family members rushed the injured men to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where they were admitted for emergency surgical care and medical treatment.
According to law enforcement officials and neighbourhood witnesses, the confrontation stemmed from a persistent personal rivalry between Russel Mia, son of Siraj Mia, and Atab Mia, son of the late Andur Mia, both belonging to Narayanpur village. Tensions had simmered between the two households for a considerable period without formal resolution. On Friday, members and supporters of both factions crossed paths along the public thoroughfare leading towards the village prayer house.
What began as a heated verbal exchange quickly escalated into physical violence as allies from both sides gathered. In the ensuing clash, firearms were drawn and discharged. Misbah Uddin and the elderly Abdul Hakim, both identified as belonging to Atab Mia’s faction, were struck by gunfire during the assault.
Upon being alerted to the gun battle, emergency police teams from the Jagannathpur Police Station mobilised immediately to the scene. Officers dispersed the gathering crowds, separated the warring groups, and restored calm across the area.
Shafiqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of the Jagannathpur Police Station, confirmed the sequence of events, stating that police units acted swiftly to bring the locality under control before the situation could escalate further. While neither party had submitted a formal written complaint at the time of reporting, authorities have commenced an inquiry into the altercation, focusing on identifying the individuals responsible for procuring and discharging the illegal weapons. Law enforcement patrols have been stepped up across the union to deter retaliatory attacks.
