A body has been recovered in connection with a violent clash between two rival groups over local dominance in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi, raising the death toll to four.
Police recovered the body of A Latif, 35, from the Meghna River in Gopinathpur area of Nilokhya Union on Thursday afternoon.
He was found wearing a police vest and was identified as the son of Shahid Mia of Birgaon Kandapara village in the same union.
However, Raipura Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mojibur Rahman said police have so far recovered three bodies, while local residents claimed the death toll has risen to four.
He said locals informed police after spotting a body floating in the Meghna River in front of Rafique Member’s house in Gopinathpur.
Police later recovered the body, completed an inquest, and sent it to the district hospital morgue for autopsy.
He added that investigations would be carried out if reports of missing persons are received.
Earlier, the bodies of Bulbul Mia, 35, son of Harju Mia of Sonakandi area in Nilokhya Union; and Anik Mia, 22, son of former Union Parishad member Osman Mia of Purbapara area, were recovered from the Nilokhya Union on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, another body, identified as Kawsar Mia, 35, was recovered from the Jitrampur area of the upazila with spear injuries.
According to police and local sources, the violence originated from a long-standing dispute over local influence between former Union Parishad member Joba Member’s group and the Mister group.
The conflict reportedly escalated following the killing of expatriate Mamun, a member of the Mister group, after which accused Joba Member, his associate Alal Munshi, and others allegedly fled the area.
They were later accused of attempting to re-enter the locality multiple times with hired armed men.
The confrontation took place early Tuesday in the Dorigaon area of Nilokhya Union, when supporters of Joba Mia and Alal Munshi allegedly entered the area by speedboat along with hired armed men and launched an attack on rivals.
Both sides reportedly used firearms and traditional weapons during the clash.
Several people were injured in the violence, and two victims later died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Additional bodies were recovered from the river in the following days.
Meanwhile, the mother of deceased Anik Mia, Nasima Khatun, filed a case at Raipura Police Station naming 30 individuals and accusing several others unidentified.
She had earlier submitted a written complaint over the incident.
Police said tensions had long persisted between the two groups over establishing local dominance and added that investigations and operations are ongoing to restore order.
Local residents said the death toll has risen to four, while several others are still missing.
