A man injured in an attack following a longstanding land dispute over land in Sadar upazila of Rajbari district, died on Monday night, triggering arson at the houses of the accused early Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Atar Sheikh, 55, son of Ainuddin Sheikh of Bethulia Khondkar Para under Ramkantapur union of the upazila.
Inspector (Investigation) Russell Molla of Rajbari Sadar Police Station, said Syed Javed Ali of Mia Para and Jalil Sheikh of Khondkar Para had been at loggerheads over the ownership of a piece of nearly 18 acres of land in Bethulia Khondkar Para of Sadar upazila.
After the Liberation War, Javed Ali established a homestead on the disputed land.
Following Jalil Sheikh’s death a few years ago, his sons claimed the land as ancestral property and built a tin-shed house there about two months ago, escalating tensions between the two sides.
The matter eventually went to court after local mediation efforts failed.
According to the family members of the victim, around 7:00am on Monday, 40–50 people led by Shamsul Haque Surjo, president of Ward No. 3 Awami League, attacked their newly built house with iron rods, sticks and locally made weapons, triggering a clash that left 20 people including Atar Sheikh injured.
They vandalised and set fire to the structure and assaulted family members.
Later, Atar Sheikh died at Sadar hospital around 8:30 pm while being taken to Dhaka for better treatment on Monday night.
