Desk Report:
We want peace, we can’t take violence anymore; everything is gone’ – this is how Kanglapru Marma of Guimara Bazar said with a choked voice. His three shops and a motorcycle were burnt to ashes in a fire by miscreants in Ramsu Bazar. He said, ‘I have no other way to earn a living. I have suffered a loss of about 10 lakh taka. I have not received any government assistance yet.
Turmeric traders Jhantu Pal and Paresh Pal said the same thing. Their warehouses and stocks were burnt in the fire. They claim that the loss is about 5 crore taka. My entire life’s savings were gone in an instant – said Paresh Pal with a trembling voice.
Some locals including Raju said that there is panic in the upazila. No one is leaving their homes out of fear. Life has come to a complete standstill. Anyone who wants to buy daily necessities, almost all the shops are closed.
Earlier, protesters started a protest by burning tires in front of the food warehouse in Sadar Upazila on Sunday while Section 144 was in force, demanding justice for the rape of a schoolgirl.
Local shops were set on fire and vandalized during the incident. At least three people were killed and fifty people, including army personnel and journalists, were injured.
Law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in controlling the situation since this morning. The army, armed police, BGB and police have been deployed at the entrance to the Ramsu Bazar area of Guimara and at various points in Guimara Bazar. Members of RAB-7 are also patrolling.
In this regard, Guimara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Enamul Haque Chowdhury said that security has been strengthened in Guimara following yesterday’s incident. Currently, the law and order situation is under control.
