20 injured in Cox’s Bazar football match clash

At least 20 people, including Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nilufa Yasmin, were injured in a clash between spectators and law enforcement during the final match of a football tournament. The incident took place on Friday (September 12) afternoon at Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin Stadium in Cox’s Bazar.

According to sources, the final was scheduled between teams from Ramu and Teknaf upazilas. Long before the match began, the stadium was already filled to capacity. Extra spectators broke through the gates to enter, causing the situation to spiral out of control.

As army, police and RAB personnel tried to manage the crowd, clashes broke out with spectators. At one stage, bricks were hurled from the gallery towards the law enforcers, leaving at least 20 people injured, including UNO Nilufa Yasmin.

Law enforcement later took stern action to bring the situation under control. By around 5pm, the atmosphere had calmed down, though the match had yet to begin.