Five Killed in Noakhali Char Gunfight

A violent confrontation over the control of newly emerged land has left at least five people dead and more than ten injured in Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila, underlining once again the deadly consequences of long-running disputes over char (riverine island) ownership.

The clash took place in the early hours of Tuesday, 23 December, at Jaglar Char, where two rival factions—led by Samshuddin and Ala Uddin respectively—exchanged gunfire. According to local sources, the confrontation escalated rapidly, with firearms, sharp weapons and blunt force reportedly used during the fighting.

Those killed have been identified as Samshuddin, also known locally as “Kopa Samshu”, his son Mobarak Hossain, their associate Jumma Dakat, and Ala Uddin, a key leader of the opposing group. The body of Ala Uddin was taken to the morgue of the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, where doctors later confirmed him dead. The remaining bodies were recovered from the char area after the violence subsided.

Residents of Jaglar Char say that several hundred landless families currently live on the island. Roughly half of the land is classified as khas (state-owned), while the remainder falls under private or disputed ownership. For years, Samshuddin had allegedly controlled much of the char with the backing of influential local figures, including former Hareni Union chairman Mushfiq and an individual known as Farid Commander. Plots of land were reportedly sold to landless families for between Tk22,000 and Tk25,000 per acre.

Tensions intensified recently after Samshuddin’s group allegedly stopped sharing proceeds from land sales with their former backers. In response, Ala Uddin—alongside figures described by locals as top criminal leaders, including Kowa Kamal and Nizam Member—reportedly led a group of 20 to 25 armed men to seize control of the char. This move triggered the deadly exchange of gunfire.

Eyewitnesses claim that after Samshuddin’s men were initially overwhelmed and forced to retreat, Samshuddin shot Ala Uddin. Retaliation followed swiftly, with Samshuddin, his son and others reportedly shot, hacked and beaten, resulting in multiple deaths at the scene.

Although the incident occurred at dawn, police and Coast Guard personnel reached the remote location only around 4:30 pm, citing difficult terrain and access constraints.

Hatiya Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Md Saiful Alam, confirmed that five bodies had been recovered and said joint operations were under way to arrest those responsible. The Coast Guard has launched patrols along nearby নদ routes to prevent suspects from fleeing.

Casualties at a Glance

The incident has once again exposed the volatile nature of char land disputes in coastal Bangladesh, where weak enforcement, poverty and criminal influence often combine to produce lethal outcomes.