Agargaon footpath row claims life of tea seller

A clash over a tea stall in front of Janata Housing Gate, Taltola, Agargaon, has claimed the life of Md. Bablu, 40, while five people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Bablu, son of Md. Selim Mia, was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in an unconscious state around 2:00 AM on Tuesday. Doctors at the hospital declared him dead. He is survived by a daughter and a son.

According to relatives, Bablu was selling tea from a small stall when members of a rival group attempted to take over the spot around 8:00 pm on Monday. During the confrontation, a man named Robiul allegedly struck Bablu on the head with an iron pipe, leaving him unconscious. He was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to DMCH for advanced treatment.

Sher-e-Bangla Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Imaul Haque, confirmed that the incident stemmed from a dispute between two factions of the Gono Odhikar Parishad. “One group had converted a footpath shop into an office, while the other opposed it. During the clash, Bablu was injured and later died at the hospital,” he said.

Police have arrested five people in connection with the clash, which highlights ongoing tensions over control of street-side shops in the area.