Dhaka, Jan. 24 -- Khagrachhari police have said the death of a man named Bimal Tripura, who succumbed to injuries after 13 days of hospitalisation following a clash between two rival groups, was the result of a "long-standing dispute over land ownership".

At a media briefing on Saturday, Additional Police Superintendent Shahadat Hossain said: "While this incident was the result of a prolonged property disagreement, everyone must remain alert so that no 'malicious' quarters can attempt to divert the situation by framing it as an ethnic conflict between the hill and Bengali communities."

He explained that a dispute was ongoing between the families of Mongshitu Marma, 40, and Abdul Bashir, 57, both from Kamalchari Union's Bhuachhari, over ...