A deadly Armed Attack Leaves Three Dead in Khagrachhari

Three people were shot dead in an armed attack in the Panchhari Upazila of Khagrachhari on Monday, intensifying concerns over the continuing security situation in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The incident took place at around 11:30 a.m. in the Madhumangal Para area under Chengi Union No. 2. While three people were killed at the scene after being struck by gunfire, law enforcement authorities said their identities had not yet been officially established. The attack triggered widespread fear among local residents, prompting security forces to strengthen their presence across the area.

According to local residents and eyewitnesses, five young men were attempting to flee from a particular location when they were pursued by a group of armed individuals. During the chase, the attackers reportedly opened fire on three of them, killing them instantly. The remaining two were allegedly forced away by the armed group. Their identities and current whereabouts remain unknown, and officials have not confirmed the claims regarding their abduction.

Soon after reports of the shooting emerged, members of the Bangladesh Army and the police arrived at the scene, secured the area and launched a preliminary investigation. Investigators are working to establish the identities of the deceased and determine the circumstances that led to the attack.

Officer-in-Charge Md Ferdous Wahid of Panchhari Police Station told the media that officers responded immediately after receiving information that three bodies had been found in the area. He said efforts were under way to identify the victims and that a thorough investigation would be carried out before appropriate legal action is taken.

Some local residents have claimed that the three deceased were members of the armed wing of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti’s Santu Group. According to their account, the attack was linked to an alleged attempt by the victims to leave the organisation. These claims, however, have not been officially verified by law enforcement agencies. Authorities have therefore refrained from drawing conclusions about either the identities of the victims or the motive behind the killings until the investigation is complete.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts have experienced intermittent violence for many years, with rival armed groups frequently accused of engaging in territorial disputes, struggles for influence and internal organisational conflicts. Such incidents have repeatedly disrupted daily life and heightened insecurity among local communities, who often find themselves caught in the middle of competing factions.

Residents have also pointed to a series of violent incidents reported in recent months in and around Panchhari, where tensions between the Santu Group of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti and the Prasit Group of the United People’s Democratic Front have allegedly escalated. Shoot-outs, reported abductions and fatalities linked to these rivalries have contributed to growing anxiety across the region. Authorities, however, assess each incident individually and avoid attributing responsibility without sufficient evidence.

The latest attack has once again drawn attention to the fragile security environment in the hill district. Investigators are continuing efforts to identify the three victims, verify the reported disappearance of the two other individuals and establish the precise sequence of events that led to the deadly shooting. Officials have stated that all available evidence is being examined and that further action will be taken once the investigation produces verified findings.