Two brothers have been killed in an attack linked to an ongoing dispute in Barlekha upazila of Moulvibazar. Another man from the opposing side, Zamir Uddin, was seriously injured in the incident, which took place on Saturday evening (27 December) in the Kechhrigul village of Dakshinbhag North Union.
The deceased were identified as Jamal Uddin, 56, a Kuwait returnee, and his younger brother Abdul Kaiyum, 49, a farmer. Both were sons of the late Nimar Ali from the same village. The injured man, Md Zamir Uddin, is the son of the late Abdus Sabur.
Local sources said a long-standing feud existed between Jamal and Kaiyum’s family and that of Zamir Uddin. The dispute reportedly flared up again on Saturday evening, leading to a heated altercation. Hearing the commotion, elder brother Jamal rushed in. At one stage, members of the rival group allegedly attacked with sharp weapons, killing both brothers on the spot. Zamir Uddin was injured during the incident and was first taken to Barlekha Upazila Health Complex. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Jamal Uddin was known locally for his political links; he was a former deputy publicity secretary of Moulvibazar District Chhatra League and the father of Mehedi Hasan Kabir, personal assistant to former Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin. The other victim, Abdul Kaiyum, was Kabir’s uncle.
Barlekha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Moniruzzaman Khan said around 8pm on Saturday that police had recovered the bodies and preparations for autopsy were underway. An investigation into the incident has begun, he added.