1 killed in clash over sand trade

A man was killed and at least 20 others were injured in sporadic clashes over establishing supremacy and business rivalry between two groups in Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj yesterday.

The dead is Somor Ali, 40, a farmer of Noyagaon village in the upazila.

Police and locals said there had been a longstanding rivalry between two groups -- one led by Alauddin, another by Sadequr Rahman -- over establishing supremacy following rivalry for sand trading in the upazila.

Both of them take contracts from a private company for earth filling.

An altercation took place on Friday night after people loyal to Sadeq intercepted Alauddin's sand-laden truck heading toward a site of a private company for earth filling, they said.

Several persons were injured after the two groups locked in a clash later in the night.

As a sequel to the clash, Sadeq's men wielded with sticks and sharp weapons attacked the houses of the supporter of Aladuddin around 10:30am yesterday.

Both groups later locked in clash and chase and counter chase took place, leaving at least 20 persons injured, locals said.

The injured were taken to Upazila Health Complex where Somor died in the afternoon, Tabidur Rahman, inspector (Investigation) of Sonargaon Police Station said.

Some of the injured were later sent to hospital in Dhaka. Filing of a case is underway, the police officer told our local correspondent.

Locals said Somor was a relative of Alauddin but the dead's family members said he was not involved in any feud.

Marjina Begum, a sister of the deceased, said her brother went to mown grass when people attacked his head from behind.

"The attackers also chased us when we attempted to help him," she said.