Over 100 injured in violent attack and looting at train station in Habiganj

Traders and residents of Harashpur railway station in Madhabpur, Habiganj, were violently attacked and looted on Friday afternoon. 

A group of assailants targeted the area, attacking both traders and local residents. 

The assault resulted in the looting of 20 to 30 shops and left over 100 people injured, including Raju Ahmed from Shialuri village and Jamal Mia from Sultanpur village, who are in critical condition.

Reports suggest that some of the attackers were from Bijoynagar in Brahmanbaria district. 

The violence appears to have been triggered by a dispute over the appointment of an imam at a local mosque in Harashpur. 

Armed with local weapons, the attackers struck the shops at Harashpur railway station.

The severity of the situation led to intervention by the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police to restore order. 

Faruk Ahmed, chairman of the local Dharmanagar Union, described the incident as unprecedented, noting that the attackers used the mosque dispute as a pretext to vandalize and loot up to 40 shops.

Jabed Masud, the officer-in-charge of Madhabpur Police Station, confirmed the incident and stated that the situation has been somewhat stabilized. An investigation is ongoing, and legal action will be pursued.