An armed attack targeting a senior local political figure outside the Cox’s Bazar District and Sessions Judge Court on Sunday morning left one man injured and triggered panic among lawyers, litigants, and court officials, according to police and eyewitness accounts.
The incident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. when a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), identified as Liakat Ali, general secretary of the Jhilongja Union unit in Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila, was leaving the court premises after attending a scheduled hearing. Armed assailants reportedly opened fire at him near the main exit gate, causing chaos as people ran for safety inside the busy court compound.
Although Liakat Ali escaped unhurt, his cousin and associate, Mainuddin (37), was struck by a bullet and sustained injuries. He was quickly taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire erupted in an area typically considered highly sensitive due to the presence of judicial institutions and law enforcement personnel.
According to police sources, the attackers appeared to have targeted Liakat Ali due to longstanding local enmity. Authorities also recalled that he had previously survived a violent assault on 5 October 2025 at his residence in the Muhuripara area of Jhilongja Union, where he was shot and hacked by unidentified attackers.
Following the shooting at the court premises, members of Liakat Ali’s entourage managed to apprehend one suspect, identified as Ziaul Haque (34), from the Eidgaon area. He was subsequently handed over to police. Law enforcement officials recovered a foreign-made pistol, two magazines, and four rounds of ammunition from his possession.
Eyewitness lawyers and litigants stated that another suspect, reportedly named Khaled, initially opened fire before Liakat Ali managed to move out of the line of fire. During the commotion, Mainuddin was struck in the leg. Additional armed individuals are believed to have fired further shots before fleeing through internal roads towards a mosque adjacent to the court complex.
Police have confirmed that several other suspects have been identified and operations are underway to apprehend them. A case for attempted murder is being prepared, and security has been significantly increased around the court area.
Incident Timeline
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| ~11:00 a.m. | BNP leader Liakat Ali leaves court after hearing |
| Immediately after | Armed attackers open fire at court gate |
| Within minutes | Chaos erupts; crowd flees for safety |
| Shortly after | Mainuddin (37) injured by gunshot |
| Minutes later | Suspect Ziaul Haque apprehended by associates |
| After arrest | Firearm and ammunition recovered; suspect handed to police |
| Later | Armed assailants flee via internal court roads |
Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mohammad Ali confirmed that investigations are ongoing and efforts are being made to arrest the remaining suspects. He emphasised that additional security measures have been implemented in and around the court premises to prevent further incidents.
The attack has once again raised concerns about security in and around judicial complexes, particularly in politically sensitive cases involving local rivalries.