Four people have been killed so far in Pahari-Bengali clashes in the hilly areas. More than half a hundred were injured in this incident. Local administration issued Section 144 in Khagrachari and Rangamati districts to control the situation.
On Wednesday (September 18) in a house in Pankhaiya neighborhood of Khagrachari, Md. A young man named Mamun was beaten to death. Mamun’s relatives blamed Pankhaiya neighborhood for the murder.
The Directorate of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a message, ‘A protest march was taken out from Dighinala College the next day (September 19) afternoon based on this incident. As the procession was crossing Boalkhali Bazar in Dighinala, some terrorists of UPDF (Original) attacked the procession and fired 20-30 rounds. In view of this, the angry crowd set fire to some shops in Boalkhali Bazaar.
Then tension spread to other parts of Khagrachari and Rangamati.
In their message, the army has used social media to spread rumors to create and increase tension.
In the same message, ISPR claimed, ‘On September 19, when a patrolling team of Khagrachari zone reached the self-contained area of Khagrachari town at 10:30 pm while shifting a comatose patient, an agitated crowd led by UPDF (original) created obstruction. At one point the terrorists of the UPDF (original) fired on the army patrolling team and the army retaliated in self-defence. It is known that 3 people were killed and some were injured in the shooting incident.
Reports so far suggest that four people have lost their lives in the clash. The deceased are Junan Chakma of Khagrachari, Dhananjay Chakma, Rubel and Anik Kumar Chakma of Rangamati.
A number of hill families have left the area for safety concerns.
The ISPR has warned in its message that the ongoing tension could turn into ‘frightening riots’ in the three hill districts.
Rosalin Shahid Chowdhury, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Khagrachari District, told Voice of America, ‘3 people have died so far (in Khagrachari) in the clash. Many were injured. As a result, section 144 has been issued in Khagrachari municipality to bring the situation under control.
Motachem Billah, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati District, told Voice of America, ‘Scattered clashes occurred in Rangamati since (Friday) morning. As a result, section 144 has been issued and a public notice has been issued in the municipal area from one o’clock.’
Local Rani Yan Yan told Voice of America that the situation in Rangamati is ‘calm for the time being’ but panic still prevails in the hilly neighborhoods of the city.
He believes that this panic has arisen due to the attack of Bengalis in the hilly areas, vandalism, looting and arson of houses and Buddhist temples.
He also said that mobile internet speed in Khagrachari was ‘extremely low’ during the attack but broadband was ‘normal’. However, mobile network was operational in Rangamati.
Army, BGB, Police and Ansar forces are now jointly deployed in the area to strengthen security.
What are the mountain leaders saying?
Rani Yan Yan thanked the government for the administration’s action in bringing the situation under control with the direct intervention of the Chief Adviser and preventing further attacks on the Paharis after the Friday Friday prayers.
In this situation, he demanded the formation of an impartial commission of inquiry to quickly investigate the incidents of communal attacks on Paharis and ‘indiscriminate firing by the military’ and bring those involved to justice.
He also drew the attention of the government to provide adequate state support to the families of the victims, to provide adequate compensation to the affected mountaineers by determining the loss of property, and to prevent the attack by the law enforcement forces ‘without delay’ during communal attacks.
Michael Chakma, leader of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), said to Voice of America that this incident is a continuation of the persecution against the hill people in the hilly areas. These events are happening continuously. The incident yesterday was also planned’ – he claimed. (on the hill) ‘It’s being done systematically to justify the military rule, to prove that they need to be here.’
The president of Pahari Chhatra Parishad also claimed that the incidents happening there are being done in a very ‘finely planned’ manner.
Michael Chakma and Rakhan Chakma feel that the ‘political problem’ in the hilly Chittagong region needs to be solved politically.
Michael Chakma said, ‘It is not possible to solve it with a single initiative. These incidents are only a part of the main problem in the hilly areas. If there is no political solution to the political problem, solve one problem today, another problem will appear tomorrow.
What is the government saying?
In a press release sent by the press wing of the Chief Adviser on Friday (September 20), the government is working sincerely to resolve the problems that arose in Khagrachari on Thursday and Rangamati on Friday and urged everyone to remain calm.
All law and order forces have been instructed by the government to exercise maximum restraint. At the same time, instructions have been given to ensure the safety of all the people living in the three hill districts’- the message said.
In this context, Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury told Voice of America, ‘I appeal to all citizens living in Rangamati and Khagrachari districts to remain calm. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Justice will be ensured through proper investigation of criminals.’
Chittagong Hill Tracts Adviser Supradeep Chakma told Voice of America about the incident, ‘Anyway, an incident has happened. Now this incident must be resolved. We do not want to see another incident in Bangladesh at this time.’
Supradeep Chakma confirmed to Voice of America that he is visiting the hilly areas on Saturday.
Today Saturday (September 21) a high-level government delegation led by the Home Advisor will visit Khagrachari and Rangamati.
In addition to these two advisors, there are also local government advisors and special assistants to the chief advisor on defense and national integration development.
Supradeep Chakma said, the main aim of this visit is to ‘remove the divide.’
The hill districts (Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati) have long had an omnipresent presence of military and paramilitary forces.
There the military administration is attached to the civil administration of the districts. The reason for the massive military presence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is said to be necessary to prevent and control insurgent activities in the area.