ISPR: Shihab Not Killed by Air Force Gunfire

Staff Reporter

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has clarified that the young man killed during the clash near the Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base was not shot by Air Force personnel. In a press release issued on Monday afternoon, the ISPR stated, “A malicious group is spreading false information on social media claiming that the youth was killed by Air Force gunfire, which is completely untrue.”

Earlier, around 12 PM, a clash broke out between Air Force personnel and locals in the Samitipara area near the Air Force Base in Ward No. 1 of Cox’s Bazar Municipality. During the clash, stones were thrown, and gunfire was reported at one point.

In a brief statement, the ISPR said, “Some miscreants from Samitipara near the Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base launched an unprovoked attack. The Bangladesh Air Force is taking necessary measures in this regard.”

While the ISPR did not mention any casualties, the police and local administration confirmed that one person was killed and several others were injured.

The deceased, Shihab Kabir Nahid (30), was a businessman and the son of Nasir Uddin from Samitipara. His body has been kept at the morgue of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Shihab’s mother, Amina Khatun, a retired headteacher of Cox’s Bazar Government High School, told reporters at the hospital, “The Air Force shot my son in the head.”

A video circulating on social media shows a young man falling to the ground after being hit in the head during the gunfire. Locals can be heard shouting that shots were being fired. When someone tried to lift him, he was seen holding his head.

Locals also claimed that Shihab was killed by gunfire. However, neither the police nor the hospital authorities confirmed this.

The ISPR refuted the claims, stating, “Analysis of the cartridge shells shows they were blank cartridges, which are non-lethal and only produce sound. The Bangladesh Air Force deeply mourns the young man’s death and extends condolences to his family.”

ISPR’s Statement

The ISPR press release detailed the Air Force’s account of the incident in Samitipara. It stated that some local miscreants launched an unprovoked attack on the Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base on Monday (24-02-2025). The incident began when a local man’s motorcycle documents were checked at the Air Force checkpoint near BIAM School, and he was taken inside the base for questioning by the Air Force Provost. Around 200 locals then advanced toward the base, and Air Force personnel tried to stop them.

As the number of locals increased, a clash broke out between Air Force members and some miscreants from Samitipara. Miscreants, allegedly incited by a malicious group, threw bricks and stones at Air Force personnel, injuring several, including four Air Force members (one officer and three airmen). Shihab Kabir Nahid was critically injured and later died after being taken to a local hospital in an Air Force vehicle.

The ISPR emphasized that, in accordance with the Air Force’s Rules of Engagement, only blank rounds were fired to protect the state’s critical infrastructure, and no live ammunition was used against the locals. Air Force members are currently receiving medical treatment. Additionally, locals attempted to set fire to bushes, but the fire did not spread significantly.

Family Blames Air Force

Meanwhile, Shihab’s sister, Nusrat Jahan, claimed on Facebook that her brother was killed by Air Force gunfire. She wrote, “My only brother, Shihab Kabir Nahid, was killed today by Air Force gunfire in Cox’s Bazar. Various media outlets are spreading false information and propaganda about my brother. Who gave the Air Force the right to shoot an unarmed man? Even after killing him, they are not stopping. They are staging dramas about my brother. I demand justice for my brother’s murder.”

**Confusion Over Air Base Name**
The ISPR press release also addressed confusion over the name of the airbase, stating, “Some online news portals and social media platforms are falsely referring to the Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base as the ‘Sheikh Hasina Air Force Base,’ which is incorrect.”

On December 2, 2021, the government issued a gazette renaming the base as the “Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base,” which remains its official name, according to the ISPR.

The press release concluded, “The Bangladesh Air Force is committed to protecting the country’s airspace and working with the people to address the overall situation. The Air Force remains dedicated to the welfare of the nation and the safety of its citizens.”