Clash near Cox’s Bazar Air Force base: ‘attempt to portray locals as terrorists’

Residents demand a proper investigation into the incident

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement has rejected the statement issued by ISPR regarding the clash between local residents and Bangladesh Air Force personnel near the Cox’s Bazar Air Force base.

At a press conference at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club on Monday evening under the banner of “Residents”, district organiser of the Student Movement, SS Sagar, expressed this stance following the death of one person in the clash.

He said, “We went there after receiving news of the incident. Upon arrival, we saw the situation was dire and confrontational. After speaking with those involved, we entered the area and learned that one person had been killed.”

Sagar also condemned the ISPR's statement describing the incident as an “attack by miscreants”.

He said, “We strongly denounce this because such an irrelevant statement is attempting to portray an entire community as terrorists. This is a deliberate attempt to misrepresent them. Both residents and journalists are aware of what truly happened. Along with the people of Ward No 1, I also reject ISPR's statement.”

Sagar emphasised future involvement in “justice-based” movements alongside Cox’s Bazar residents and demanded a proper investigation into the incident.

The clash occurred around noon in the Samiti Para area of Cox’s Bazar Municipality’s Ward No 1, near the Air Force base.

Local residents engaged in a confrontation with Air Force personnel, during which stones were thrown, and a running battle ensued. Gunshots were also fired during the altercation. A businessman named Shihab Kabir Nahid was killed in the incident.

In a brief statement at the time, ISPR said: “Some miscreants from Samiti Para, near the Cox’s Bazar Air Force base, launched an unprovoked attack on the base. The Bangladesh Air Force has taken necessary measures in response.”

While ISPR did not mention casualties, police and local administration confirmed that one person had been killed and several others injured.

The deceased, 30-year-old Nahid was a businessman and the son of Nasir Uddin from Samiti Para. He is survived by a 3-year-old son.

Saiful Islam, in charge of the hospital police outpost, confirmed that Shihab’s body was being kept at the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue.

Shihab’s mother, Amena Khatun, a retired headteacher of Cox’s Bazar Government High School, was mourning at the hospital, saying: “The Air Force shot my son in the head.”

When asked whether Shihab was killed by gunfire, Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital’s acting residential medical officer Subaktagin Mahmud Shahil said: “There is a head injury. Whether it was caused by a bullet will be determined after the post-mortem examination.”

Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salauddin, citing the hospital superintendent, confirmed that one person had died and five others were injured in the incident.

During the evening press conference, local representative Ejazullah Qutubi announced that residents intended to file a case over the attack.

When asked whether Shihab’s family would file a case, his mother Amena Khatun said they would decide later.

As of now, no case has been filed by either the Air Force or the residents, according to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station chief Elias Khan.

Speaking at the press conference, local elder Maulana Forkanul Rashid said: “I swear by Allah, my people are not like that. They respect the law and prefer peace.”