A violent clash erupted on Tuesday evening at Mirpur market in Bahubal upazila, Habiganj, injuring at least 50 people, including police personnel.
The three-hour skirmish, which began around 5:15pm on Tuesday (1 April) between residents of Baniyagaon and Chargao villages, saw combatants wielding traditional weapons as panic spread across the area.
Local sources reported that the conflict quickly escalated, drawing in neighbouring villages and transforming Mirpur market into a battlefield. Shopkeepers shut their stores in fear, with many trapped inside as looting and vandalism ensued.
The precise trigger remains uncertain.
Some claim the dispute stemmed from harassment allegations, while others attribute it to a quarrel over a motorcycle battery purchase.
However, officials have not confirmed a definitive cause.
Anwar Hossain Salehi, former chairman of Bahubal upazila council, stated that long-standing tensions existed between the two groups, but the exact cause of the latest violence was unclear.
Police and army units launched a joint operation at approximately 8:15pm, bringing the situation under control.
Bahubal police station’s officer-in-charge, Zahidul Islam, confirmed that law enforcement took firm action to restore order and that additional forces have been deployed to maintain stability.
