Armed groups have established dominance across the Padma River’s island regions spanning Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna, and Kushtia, creating a climate of fear and lawlessness. On Tuesday, Azizul Hakim, a sand depot manager, was shot dead in the Charjajira area after armed men arrived by speedboat and used a drone to locate him. Police later recovered his body with a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities report at least eleven active armed factions, with the ‘Kankon Bahini’ currently the most feared.

Police sources confirm multiple cases against these groups, including six involving Kankon Bahini, whose leader remains at large despite several arrests. Law enforcement officials cite the region’s vast, river-based terrain and overlapping administrative boundaries as major obstacles to operations. Recent clashes reportedly involved heavy weapons, possibly AK-47 rifles. Following Hakim’s killing, senior police officers are planning coordinated operations across the four districts.

Residents describe living amid constant gunfire, extortion, and fear, with movement restricted after dark. Locals demand long-term security measures and inter-district coordination to restore peace in the Padma’s char areas.