Police in Chattogram have arrested Murad, who has been accused of being the main organiser behind a gunfight linked to a dispute over drug dealing and local dominance in Bakalia, along with two alleged associates.
The two other detainees have been identified as Suman and Ruhul Amin. They were arrested during an operation in the Bakalia area on Tuesday night and were sent to court on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
The arrests followed a violent clash in the Seyedshah Road area beside Access Road in Bakalia on Sunday night. Police and local sources said the confrontation was reportedly centred on control of drug dealing in the area and influence over the locality.
The incident escalated into repeated chases and counter-chases between the two groups. Stones were thrown, and gunshots were reportedly fired during the confrontation. The sound of gunfire late at night caused alarm among residents in the surrounding area.
After receiving information about the violence, officers from Bakalia Police Station went to the scene and brought the situation under control. Fifteen people were arrested that night in connection with the incident.
Police subsequently continued efforts to identify those allegedly involved in organising the confrontation. Acting on confidential information, officers conducted another operation in Bakalia on Tuesday night and arrested Murad, described by police as a leader of one of the groups, along with Suman and Ruhul Amin.
Police said Murad has a significant history of cases. Assistant Commissioner (Media) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, Aminur Rashid, said a review of Murad’s Police Clearance and Previous Criminal Record information, commonly referred to as his PCR or related criminal record, found links to 16 cases filed at different police stations under the metropolitan police.
The reference to multiple previous cases is now part of the police assessment of Murad following his arrest. The allegations contained in those cases remain matters for the relevant legal proceedings.
The latest arrests bring the number of people detained in connection with the recent confrontation to 18, following the 15 arrests made on the night of the clash and the three subsequent arrests on Tuesday.
The incident has drawn attention to concerns over violence associated with disputes surrounding illegal drug activity and local influence. Such confrontations can quickly escalate from verbal or territorial disputes into public disorder, particularly when weapons are allegedly involved. The Bakalia incident caused concern in a residential area because of the reported use of firearms at night.
Police are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the clash and the roles allegedly played by those arrested. The investigation is expected to establish whether the detained individuals were directly involved in the violence and whether any other people were connected to the confrontation.
The three newly arrested suspects were produced before a court on Wednesday afternoon. Their arrest and subsequent court proceedings will now determine the next stage of the legal process.
Police have not provided further details about the specific charges brought against the three men in connection with the latest incident. The authorities have said, however, that information gathered during the investigation, together with records of previous cases, will be considered as the legal proceedings continue.
The arrests also come as police seek to maintain order in Bakalia following the late-night clash. Further investigation into the alleged drug-related dispute, the reported gunfire and the involvement of the different groups is expected to clarify how the confrontation began and who was responsible for escalating it.
