A man was killed and several others were injured in a clash between locals and air force personnel near an under-construction air base beside Cox's Bazar airport yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Shahab Kabir Nahid, 30, of Samitipara in the beach town.

Joint forces have been deployed in the area to avert further escalation.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said the clash broke out after "miscreants" from Samitipara launched a sudden attack on the base following an argument with a motorcyclist at a checkpoint.

Police sources and witnesses identified the motorcyclist as Jahedul Islam Jahed, an apprentice lawyer of Kutubdia Para. 

They said the clash began around 11:00am after the argument over wearing a helmet.

At one stage, Jahed was taken inside the base camp. Hearing this, his associates, relatives and others arrived at the scene and started hurling brick chips at the under-construction base and its personnel.

The witnesses added that the clash lasted for about half an hour, during which gunshots were heard.

Nahid was taken to the emergency of Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital around 12:30pm. Minutes later, doctors declared him dead.

Sabuktagin Mahmud Sohel, resident medical officer of the hospital, said Nahid's skull was severely damaged in the back. The body was sent for autopsy, and the cause of his death would be known later.

Motorcyclist Jahed was also taken to the hospital around 3:00pm for treatment, hospital sources said. He is involved in a movement to protect locals' land in the area.

As the news of Nahid's death spread, people wielding sticks began gathering near the air force base.

Former BNP lawmaker Lutfar Rahman Kajal came to the scene around 1:30pm and managed to calm things down, said witnesses.

Kajal said he had talked to the locals and air force personnel and hoped that the issue would be settled.

ISPR STATEMENT

Detailing the incident in a statement, the ISPR said a local man had been brought to the air base for questioning from a checkpoint, as he did not have the necessary documents for his motorcycle.

Then, as some 200 people from Samitipara advanced towards the base, air force personnel blocked their path.

As the number of locals swelled, a clash ensued between the air force personnel and local miscreants near the checkpoint.

The statement said the miscreants, "instigated by some vested interests", threw brickbats at the air force personnel.

Several people, including four from the air force (one officer and three airmen), were injured, according to the statement.

Nahid died after he was taken to a local hospital on an air force vehicle in a serious condition, it added.

The ISPR stressed that in accordance with the rules of engagement, the air force personnel had fired blank rounds, not live ammunition, at the locals.

The injured air force personnel were undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The windows of an air force vehicle were damaged by brickbats. Besides, locals attempted to set fire to bushes, but it did not spread, said the ISPR.

It also said a malicious group aiming to tarnish the reputation of the air force began spreading rumours on social media, claiming that the young man had been killed by air force gunfire, which is not true.

Upon examining photos of spent cartridges that have been circulated, it is clear that these were from blanks, which are non-lethal and only produce sound, said the statement.

The Bangladesh Air Force expressed deep sorrow over the death of the man and extended condolences to his family, it added.

WHAT FAMILY SAYS

Nahid's father Nasir Uddin is a retired superintendent of Primary Teachers Training Institute and his mother, Amena Khatun, is a former headteacher of Cox's Bazar Government High School.

Nasir alleged his son was shot when he was standing at the doorway of their home at Samitipara during the clash.

"A bullet hit his head, blowing off a part of his skull," he said.

Nahid was married and had a three-year-old son.

AREA OF CLIMATE REFUGEES

Samitipara is under ward-1 of Cox's Bazar municipality. The ward, with an over 50,000-strong population, also covers Kutubdia Para and 17 other localities.

Most of the residents are climate refugees from Moheshkhali, Kutubdia, and other areas. They settled on government lands near the sea after displacement by the devastating cyclone and tidal surge of April 29, 1991.

The ongoing construction of the air force base has led to evictions. A special resettlement project with 137 five-storey buildings in Khurushkul was launched for the displaced people.

Two years ago, 600 families were relocated to 20 buildings, with 85 more buildings now ready.

On January 7, thousands of residents of ward-1 blocked the town's main road, demanding a halt to evictions.