The clash took place around 10:00 am in Jagla Char village, located between wards 7 and 8 of Sukhchar Union. Police have so far identified one of the deceased as Alauddin (40), son of Mohiuddin of Cherang Bari in Char Aman Ullah village under Ward 6 of Sukhchar Union. The identities of the other four victims could not be confirmed immediately.
Hatiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Saiful Alam confirmed the incident.
According to local sources, the land in Jagla Char has not been officially settled. Taking advantage of the situation, after August 5, a group known as the Kopa Shamsu Bahini from Jahajmara Union allegedly sold portions of the char land. Later, another group led by Alauddin from Sukhchar Union reportedly attempted to seize control of the land and sold plots at higher prices. As both sides tried to sell the same land separately, tensions escalated.
It is alleged that Alauddin, who was involved in land grabbing in the char, had close links with former Sukhchar Union BNP president Belayet Hossain Selim, Awami League leader Nizam Member and BNP leader Nabi. With their alleged support, the Kopa Shamsu group was initially driven out of the char and later allied with Alauddin’s group, leading to repeated disputes between the factions.
Local residents said that on Tuesday morning, armed members of the Kopa Shamsu group and the Alauddin group confronted each other over control of the char. At one stage, both sides exchanged gunfire. Alauddin and four others were critically injured during the shootout. Alauddin was taken to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The bodies of the other four victims were found at the scene.
Residents claimed that three armed groups—Farid Commander’s group, Shamsu Bahini and Alauddin Bahini—were involved in the clash. They said the leaders of Shamsu Bahini and Alauddin Bahini were killed in the gunfight, while Farid Commander reportedly fled the area with his followers.
Locals also alleged that Jagla Char has been plagued by violence for a long time, with houses set on fire and large sums of money looted during previous clashes. They fear the death toll may rise due to the remoteness of the char area and delays in emergency response.
Efforts to contact former Sukhchar Union BNP president Belayet Hossain Selim for comment were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was found switched off.
OC Md. Saiful Alam said one body has been kept at Noakhali General Hospital, while four others were recovered from the scene. He added that police reached the remote char area around 4:30 pm and that the exact cause of death will be confirmed after autopsies are conducted.
