At least 50 people were injured in a three-hour clash between two groups of villagers in Lakhai upazila of Habiganj Wednesday night over the possession of a marshland.
Of the injured, four were transported to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, while others received treatment at Habiganj Sadar Adhunik Hospital and local upazila health complex, police reported.
According to local residents, the clash stemmed from a longstanding dispute between Lakhai Union Parishad chairman Arif Ahmed Rupan and former Bangladesh Nationalist Party joint-general secretary Haris Miah over possession of Kanja Bil, a marshland in the area.
Arif and Haris are inhabitants of Swajangram village of the Lakhai upazila. Armed with locally made weapons, supporters from both sides locked in a clash at about 6:00pm Wednesday over the issue. The attacks and counterattacks continued in the dark for three hours, leaving over 50 people from both groups injured.
Villagers said that the violence escalated until security forces intervened. A team of army personnel, along with police, arrived at the scene at about 9:00om to restore order.
Lakhai police station officer-in-charge Bonde Ali confirmed the incident Thursday afternoon, stating that police remained deployed in the area to prevent further clashes.
鈥楾he injured have been sent to hospitals and health complexes for treatment,鈥� OC Bonde Ali said, adding that no arrest was made.
鈥楲egal action will be taken if any written complaints are submitted,鈥� the police officer added.
