A brutal cycle of retaliatory violence has gripped Madaripur as the murder of a local businessman escalated into widespread arson and looting. On Tuesday evening, a volatile mob ignited several homes and detonated multiple crude hand bombs in the Natun Madaripur area of the Sadar Upazila, following the gruesome killing of 50-year-old Alamgir Howlader earlier that morning.
Table of Contents
A Grisly Assassination
The day’s unrest began at approximately 7:00 am when Alamgir Howlader—a cable TV and internet provider by profession—was ambushed by a rival faction. The attackers reportedly hacked him to death, severing his right wrist from his body in an act of extreme brutality. Mr Howlader, the son of the late Hafez Howlader, was not without controversy; police records indicate he was a named suspect in several criminal cases, including the high-profile murder of Shakil Munshi, the former president of the Sadar Upazila Sramik Dal.
Escalation: Arson and Collective Punishment
By 7:30 pm, shortly after the evening Iftar, tensions boiled over into collective retribution. Supporters of the deceased barricaded local roads and descended upon the properties of their rivals, specifically targeting the homestead of Hasan Munshi and his associates. Witnesses described a chaotic scene where multiple hand bombs were detonated to terrorise residents before five to six houses were set ablaze and systematically looted.
Table: Timeline of Conflict and Casualties in Natun Madaripur
| Date / Time | Event | Key Figures Involved |
| Aug 2024 | Power Shift | Fall of AL Gov; Shift in local dominance. |
| 23 Mar 2025 | Political Murder | Shakil Munshi (Sramik Dal) killed. |
| Mar 2026 (07:00) | Retaliatory Homicide | Alamgir Howlader murdered; wrist severed. |
| Mar 2026 (15:30) | Public Protest | Relatives protest with body at DC office. |
| Mar 2026 (19:30) | Mass Arson | 5-6 houses burnt; looting reported. |
The Political Undercurrents
The violence is deeply rooted in a long-standing feud over territorial dominance between the supporters of former Awami League Councillor Moniruzzaman Akter Howlader and the Munshi family. Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, the political vacuum was filled by the Munshi faction. Recent months have seen at least ten major nocturnal skirmishes involving torchlight chases and explosives, many of which have circulated on social media.
Security Response
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Madaripur Sadar Model Station, Abul Kalam Azad, confirmed that a joint force comprising the Police, Army, and RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) was deployed alongside the Fire Service to quell the flames and restore order. While one individual, Masud Bepari (54), has been detained in connection with the morning’s murder, the perpetrators of the evening arson remain at large. Joint patrols continue to sweep the area to prevent further bloodshed.