By Vidhi Thacker
After an altercation between a group of locals and Air Force personnel at the airbase in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district on Monday, at least one person was killed and several injured. According to the sources, the victim was a 30-year-old trader named Shihab Kabir who was allegedly shot dead.
A statement was released by the public relations division of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “Some criminals from Samity Para, adjacent to the Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base, launched an attack on the Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base. The Bangladesh Air Force is taking the necessary measures in this regard.”
The conflict began when a biker was taken into a military base for interrogation due to travelling without the necessary paperwork for his vehicle. This incident prompted around 200 people to march to the base. In an attempt to stop the marchers, security personnel confronted them, leading to a clash.
The officer in charge of a police box at a local hospital stated that the victim was brought to the district hospital already deceased and had sustained gunshot wounds. They noted that he had suffered severe injuries to the back of his head.
A local journalist reported that the Bangladesh government plans to expand the airport and relocate residents from the surrounding area, a proposal that has met with opposition from some locals.
Mohammad Salahuddin, district deputy commissioner, said that an investigation will be conducted to establish what led to the conflict. Action would be then taken against the offenders. Security in the area has increased as authorities work to understand the situation and stop any further problems.