Desk Report:
Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khandaker has said that Section 144 will be withdrawn if the blockade called by Jumma students is lifted. At the same time, he announced the formation of a five-member committee to investigate the violence in Ramsu Bazar, Guimara.
The Deputy Commissioner said these things while visiting the affected areas in Guimara on Tuesday. At that time, the affected people raised various complaints to him.
Pledgeing to stand by them, Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khandaker said, “Today we have come here to express our condolences to the affected people. We express our condolences to them. Initiatives will be taken to rehabilitate them. We will take responsibility for the treatment of those who are undergoing treatment. We will talk to the families of those who have been killed.”
Regarding law and order, the Deputy Commissioner said, “We have talked to the agitators. They have requested us to withdraw Section 144. We have said that if they lift the blockade, we will also lift Section 144.’
District Superintendent of Police Arefin Jewel said that the families of those who were killed in the violence in Guimara have been requested to file a case. If they do not, the police will file a case.
Situation in Khagrachari
The indefinite road blockade called by Jumma students and the public continues in Khagrachari for the fourth day today. Although the blockade has been eased on the Khagrachari-Chittagong and Khagrachari-Dhaka roads, no long-distance buses were seen plying.
A small number of battery-powered auto-rickshaws are also plying on internal roads. People are not going out without necessity. Section 144 issued by the administration is also in force in the district headquarters and Guimara upazilas. The situation is still tense.
When visiting the Shapla Chattar and Chengi Square areas of the city, it is seen that people have to face searches when entering or leaving the city. Law enforcement officers are deployed at every intersection. They are being questioned only when they see more than one person together. Most shops, except pharmacies, are closed.
In this regard, Khagrachari Sadar Zone Commander Lt. Col. Md. Khademul Islam said that the law and order situation in the city is currently risk-free. The army is active in Section 144 operations. There is no possibility of any untoward incident in the city for now. Along with the army, BGB, police and APBN members are on duty to control the situation.
Sadar Sector Commander Col. Md. Abdul Mottakim said that 9 platoons of BGB are conducting round-the-clock patrols in Khagrachari city day and night. In addition, two more platoons have been kept on standby to control the situation. Section 144 is still in force in Khagrachari Municipality, Sadar Upazila and Guimara Upazila.
Superintendent of Police Arefin Jewel said, there are patrols by law enforcement agencies including the army, BGB, and police to control the law and order situation in the district. No untoward incident has taken place.
Deputy Commissioner ABM Iftekharul Islam Khandaker said, “No untoward incident has taken place so far. If those who have imposed the blockade withdraw it, we will also withdraw Section 144.”
The District Commissioner said, “We have had a meeting with the blockaders. Out of the eight points they have, we have addressed seven. We want the issue to be resolved at the negotiating table.”
Khagrachari Region Commander Brigadier General Hasan Mahmud said that the UPDF planned to capitalize on the Khagrachari rape incident to create unrest in the hills. After controlling the situation in the city, three people were killed in clashes and shootings in Guimara. The UPDF is responsible for this.
Hasan Mahmud also said that the country is facing national elections. UPDF is carrying out such incidents to thwart them.
Earlier, the bodies of three hillmen killed in violence in Guimara last Sunday were handed over to their families on Monday night after the post-mortem. Guimara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Enamul Haque Chowdhury said that their cremation was completed that night.
In addition, the administration held a meeting with representatives of the Jumma students and the public yesterday in the presence of Chittagong Hill Tracts Advisor Supradeep Chakma, but no decision was made. However, eight demands were raised by the Jumma students and the public in the meeting.
