A fatal road accident in Raozan, Chattogram, claimed the life of Hefazat-e-Islam leader Maulana Sohel Chowdhury (50), sparking widespread protests and highway blockades. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a bus hit Sohel’s motorcycle from behind near Nabin Sen Government Primary School, causing fatal injuries. Locals rushed him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Following the incident, Hefazat activists began protesting, alleging that the death was a planned assassination. From Wednesday morning, they blocked the Chattogram–Khagrachhari and Chattogram–Rangamati highways, halting traffic and leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. Police officials, including Additional Superintendent Kazi Md. Tarek Aziz, confirmed that negotiations were ongoing to restore order. Hefazat’s central youth affairs secretary, Mufti Kamrul Islam, accused the ruling party of involvement and announced a day-long blockade in Chattogram North district to demand justice.

In Chattogram’s Lohagara upazila, over a hundred impoverished families of Amirabad Union’s Jaladash Para have been trapped for 30 years after their only access road was blocked by the family of late former upazila chairman Ziaul Haque Chowdhury Babul. Locals allege that using political influence, Babul’s family built a wall across the public land, cutting off all passage to the community. On October 6, hundreds of affected residents staged a human chain and protest rally at Bottoli Motor Station, demanding restoration of the road. Local leaders, including former Jubo Dal joint convener Muslim Hossain, accused Babul’s heir, Yuvraj, of threatening villagers who demanded access. After the demonstration, residents submitted a memorandum to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), who called the road closure “a heinous crime” and promised immediate action following a site inspection. The community warned of intensified protests if the blockade remains.

Dismissed and OSD-designated employees of Islami Bank have withdrawn their blockade from the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Faujdarhat, Chattogram. The protest, which began around 11:30 a.m. and caused a three-kilometer-long traffic jam, ended at about 1:00 p.m. as traffic gradually normalized. The demonstrators claimed that around 5,500 employees were dismissed or made OSD for boycotting the bank’s Special Competency Assessment examination. They issued a 24-hour ultimatum to meet their six-point demands, including immediate reinstatement. The earlier blockade had caused severe suffering for commuters.

Police arrested top Chattogram gangster Sajjad Hossain, accused in multiple murder cases. Following his arrest, his wife, Sharmin Akter Tamanna, posted a defiant video on Facebook, declaring they would spend huge amounts of money to secure his release. She warned those responsible for his arrest and claimed Sajjad would return soon. Sajjad, wanted for extortion, land grabbing, and murder, had previously threatened police. Despite past escape attempts, he was finally caught in Dhaka. Authorities are tightening measures to prevent his release.