A 48-year-old man was killed and three others were injured when a dispute over clearing weeds from farmland escalated into a clash between two groups in Baniyachong, Habiganj, on Monday morning.
The incident took place at around 9am on 14 September in the Chalban haor area of the upazila. The deceased was Tahir Mia, son of the late Tajim Ullah of Khagaura Union.
According to police and local residents, Tahir went to the haor with his brother Shahid Mia and Anu Mia to clear weeds from their land. While they were working, several neighbours, including Jahir Ullah, Sharif and Bakkar, allegedly objected to the work.
An argument soon broke out between the two sides over the matter. Tensions escalated rapidly and eventually turned into a physical confrontation.
Tahir Mia, Shahid Mia, Anu Mia and Swapna Begum were injured in the clash. Relatives and local residents subsequently rescued the injured and took them to Habiganj Modern District Hospital for treatment.
Doctors at the hospital declared Tahir dead after he was brought in. The other three injured people received medical treatment at the hospital.
Police said the incident appears to have stemmed from an existing dispute over land between the two sides. The disagreement over clearing weeds was reportedly the immediate trigger for Monday morning’s confrontation.
Prabas Kumar Singh, additional superintendent of police for the Baniyachong Circle, said the killing was believed to have resulted from the longstanding land dispute. Police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the clash and working to identify and arrest those involved.
Police have also been deployed in the area to prevent any further deterioration of the situation.
Land-related disputes can become particularly contentious in rural areas, where disagreements over ownership, possession or the use of agricultural plots may continue for extended periods. In this case, investigators are seeking to establish precisely how the confrontation began, who took part in the violence and what led to Tahir’s death.
The authorities are continuing their investigation, while the presence of police at the scene is intended to maintain order following the fatal clash.
