Two killed in clash at Cox’s Bazar hotel bar

Two people were killed in a clash between two groups at a bar in the Jhautola area of Cox’s Bazar town. The incident took place at a bar on the second floor of the Renaissance Hotel between around 10:30pm and 11:30pm on Thursday (August 27).

The deceased were identified as Najibul Haque Rashed, 28, from Madhyam Nuniachhara, and Solaiman alias Salman, 26, from the BGB Camp area of Cox’s Bazar.

According to police and eyewitnesses, several people were drinking at the bar on Thursday night. At one point, an argument broke out between people from Rashed’s and Salman’s groups over a minor issue. Both sides then called in additional people from outside. The groups eventually clashed, using locally made weapons and broken glass bottles.

During the clash, Rashed suffered severe injuries to his neck and abdomen from broken glass and knife attacks. He was taken to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Meanwhile, locals allegedly beat Salman over accusations that he was involved in Rashed’s killing before handing him over to police. He was initially admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital under police guard. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment on Friday.

However, a local source claimed that after Rashed’s death, people from his group took Salman from the hospital or its vicinity and assaulted him again, resulting in his death. Police have not provided further details regarding the claim.

Cox’s Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police Md Ahidul Islam said initial information suggested that the bar was being operated without the required authorization. The establishment was sealed and shut down to facilitate the investigation and preserve evidence.

However, Renaissance Hotel manager Foyezul Haque claimed that the bar’s licence had been renewed and remains valid until June 2027.

Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, said the bodies of the two victims had been sent to the morgue for autopsies. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area following the incident.

He added that police were collecting CCTV footage from the bar and trying to identify and arrest others involved in the clash. No formal case has been filed yet, but the process of filing one is underway.