BREAKING: Bangladesh Airforce Base attacked, 1 killed

A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) base in the southeastern coastal district of Cox’s Bazar was thrust into chaos today when a group of local residents launched a sudden attack, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. The incident, which unfolded around noon near the Samiti Para area, has heightened tensions in the region and prompted a swift response from the military.

According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the public relations wing of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the assault was initiated by “miscreants” from the nearby Samiti Para neighborhood. The statement, signed by Assistant Director Ayesha Siddiqua, noted that the Bangladesh Air Force was taking “necessary measures” to address the situation but provided no further details on casualties or the motive behind the attack. Local authorities, however, confirmed that the clash turned deadly, with security personnel forced to retaliate to secure the base.

The deceased was identified as Shihab Kabir, a 30-year-old local trader and resident of Samiti Para. Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin reported that Kabir was shot during the confrontation and succumbed to his injuries. “Several others were also injured in the incident,” Salahuddin told reporters, adding that an investigation would be launched to determine the cause of the violence. Saiful Islam, in charge of the Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital police box, confirmed Kabir’s death, noting that he had been hit by gunfire during the melee.

Preliminary reports suggest the attack stemmed from a simmering local dispute that escalated into a full-blown assault on the military installation. Sources indicate the conflict may have been triggered earlier in the day by an altercation between Air Force personnel and a motorbike rider, who was challenged for not wearing a helmet. According to local media, including the Bengali-language Prothom Alo newspaper, the rider’s relatives and neighbors rallied in response, storming the base with apparent intent to confront the soldiers. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, leading to an exchange of gunfire as security forces moved to repel the attackers.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of pandemonium, with shouts and sporadic gunfire echoing through the area. Videos circulating on social media platforms captured Air Force personnel clashing with an agitated crowd, though the authenticity of the footage remains unverified. By mid-afternoon, the Bangladesh Army had cordoned off the site, restricting access to prevent further escalation. “The situation is tense but under control,” a local official stated, urging residents to maintain calm.

The attack comes at a precarious time for Bangladesh, which has been grappling with political instability since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 following a student-led uprising. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has struggled to restore order amid rising crime and sporadic violence. Just hours before the incident, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury held a pre-dawn press conference in Dhaka, vowing to crack down on “cohorts” of the deposed Awami League regime accused of destabilizing the country. “We will ensure terrorists cannot stand anywhere,” he declared, announcing intensified patrols nationwide following the recent “Operation Devil Hunt,” which netted over 8,600 arrests.

Speculation about the attack’s underlying cause has pointed to a possible link with an ongoing airport expansion project in Cox’s Bazar, which requires the relocation of local residents, a proposal that has faced resistance from some community members. However, authorities have yet to confirm this connection, and no group has claimed responsibility for the assault. The incident has raised alarm bells about the security of military installations in a region already under scrutiny due to its proximity to Rohingya refugee camps and its strategic coastal location.

As evening fell, the cordoned-off base remained a hive of activity, with military personnel reinforcing their positions and investigators beginning their work. Residents of Samiti Para expressed a mix of anger and fear, with some alleging excessive use of force by the Air Force, while others mourned the loss of Kabir, a well-known figure in the local market. 

The Cox’s Bazar attack marks a rare instance of civilians targeting a military facility in Bangladesh, underscoring the fragile state of law and order in the country. As the investigation unfolds, questions linger about how such a breach occurred and what it portends for a nation still finding its footing after months of upheaval. For now, the focus remains on preventing further violence in this picturesque beach town, now marred by the echoes of gunfire and loss.