A longstanding dispute over the ownership of a local graveyard and waqf estate escalated into violent clashes between the residents of two neighbouring villages in Netrokona’s Kalmakanda upazila, leaving at least 56 people injured.
The violent confrontation broke out on Friday morning, 14 August, in the Amgora area under Rongchhati Union. Police units deployed swiftly to the site to disperse the crowd and bring the volatile situation under control.
According to local residents and law enforcement officials, a dispute had been simmering for years between the inhabitants of Amgora and nearby Puliya Paneshwarpara villages over a designated burial ground and associated waqf property. Despite the ongoing disagreement, families from both villages have traditionally buried their deceased relatives in the contested plot for generations.
Escalating Tensions and Friday’s Confrontation
Friction between the two communities intensified recently following disagreements regarding proposed infrastructure projects, including the construction of a public market adjacent to the cemetery grounds.
The uneasy truce snapped on Friday morning when rival groups gathered near the location. What began as a heated verbal altercation quickly degenerated into a physical brawl.
Participants reportedly pelted each other with bricks and stones left stockpiled along the nearby road for ongoing construction work. The sudden barrage caused chaotic scenes across the thoroughfare, leaving dozens of individuals with varying degrees of trauma and physical injuries.
Medical Response and Ongoing Police Presence
Emergency medical personnel at the Kalmakanda Upazila Health Complex reported that 56 injured individuals had sought treatment at the facility by 1:00 pm on Friday. Given the severity of their injuries, attending doctors referred six patients to advanced tertiary medical centres for specialised care, while others received treatment locally.
Kalmakanda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mostafizur Rahman confirmed that the clash originated from the deep-seated dispute over the graveyard’s ownership and waqf administration. He noted that police units moved rapidly upon receiving reports of the violence to restore order and separate the conflicting parties.
Law enforcement personnel remain stationed across Amgora and surrounding areas to prevent further retaliatory violence. While the initial conflict has been suppressed, local sources indicate that substantial tension continues to hover over the two villages.
