Rural veterinarian killed in Cox's Bazar over lost sandal dispute

Mehedi Hasan Sakib, 30, a rural veterinarian, has died following a clash sparked by a dispute over a lost sandal in Badarkhali union of Cox's Bazar's newly formed Matamuhuri upazila. He passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chattogram on Saturday morning. Three others, including his father and two brothers, were also injured in the incident.

According to local sources, a worker's sandal went missing while working in a salt field on August 13. The incident initially led to an argument, followed by allegations of an attack on Sakib. Although local initiatives were taken to settle the matter socially, the accused parties reportedly failed to attend the meeting, according to the family.

The family alleged that on the morning of August 15, several individuals—including Kaifu, Imon, Rokon, Jibon, and Zihan—attacked Sakib's home armed with local weapons, machetes (da), kiris, and iron rods. During the attack, the house was vandalized, and Sakib, his father Waz Uddin, 65, and his two brothers Arafat, 21, and Mosharraf, 24, were indiscriminately beaten. After being rushed to the hospital with critical injuries, Sakib subsequently succumbed to his wounds.

The statements of the accused individuals could not be obtained immediately. Locals claimed that several of those involved in the attack already face multiple prior charges of murder, snatching, and robbery.

Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Arifur Rahman stated that police have visited the scene and launched an investigation, assuring that those involved will be promptly identified and brought to justice.