Army ask local leaders to cooperate as violent riots feared in hill districts

The tense atmosphere surrounding the ongoing violence in the Chittagong hill tracts is feared to escalate, the Bangladesh Army said today (20 September).

"... the ongoing tension may lead to violent riots in the three districts [Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban]," reads a statement issued by the ISPR in the afternoon.

The armed force called on local leaders to urgently cooperate in a bid to deescalate the law-and-order situation in the region.

"Necessary legal action will be taken after identifying the real culprits [behind the violence] by conducting a proper investigation," the statement also said.

The army also urged everyone to maintain peace and harmony in the districts.

In view of the ongoing situation, Section 144 has been imposed in Rangamati and Khagrachari districts.

How the violence erupted

In the statement, the army said the ongoing violence erupted after a local youth named Md Mamun, son of late Noor Nabi, was beaten to death by mobs over an incident of motorcycle theft on 18 September in Khagrachari Sadar. 

The following day, students from Dighinala College brought out a procession in protest of the incident. "As the procession was crossing the Boalkhali Bazaar in Dighinala, some terrorist of the UPDF (main) launched an attack on the procession and fired 20-30 rounds of bullets. In response, agitated locals set fire to some shops in the Boalkhali Bazaar."

50 shops gutted as market set alight during clash in Khagrachhari

The clashes left six injured, who were sent to Dighinala Upazila Health Complex and Khagrachari Sadar Hospital. The situation was later brought under control by patrol teams of the army and the fire was doused by the Fire Service with help from the locals.

"Following the incidents mentioned above, tension spread across Sadar, Dighinala, Panchari upazilas of Khagrachari and nearby areas. Some groups with vested interests spread rumours on social media, resulting in further agitation," reads the ISPR statement.

In light of the situation, an emergency virtual meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Khagrachari deputy commissioner to quickly bring the law-and-order situation under control in the district.

The meeting decided to launch joint patrolling by the army, the Border Guard Bangladesh, police and Ansar teams in all upazilas from 10:00pm on 19 September to keep the situation under control, the statement reads.

Discussions were also held with various community leaders, and they were asked to refrain from violence.

Three dead in 'shootout with UPDF'

According to the ISPR statement, a group of agitated locals, led by UPDF, obstructed an army patrol team of Khagrachari zone in the Swanirvar area of the city when the team was trying to transport a critically ill patient.

3 killed, 9 injured in clashes in Khagrachari

"At one point, UPDF terrorists fired on the army patrol team members and the army members fired back in self-defence. The shootout reportedly left three dead and some injured," reads a statement.

Agitated locals also attacked a group of youths on motorcycles and beat them in Panchari. "The agitated locals, led by UPDF (main), also vandalised the office of the Fire Brigade."

Violence spreads to Rangamati, Section 144 imposed

This morning (20 September), in Rangamati, locals gathered in the Rangamati Gymnesium area in Sadar upazila under the banner of 'Hill Student Movement Against Conflict and Discrimination". The gathering was organised by Pahari Chhatra Parishad, supported by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS).

1 killed as violence rages in Rangamati

"At the time, 800-1,000 agitated people brought out a procession towards the Bonorupa area. They vandalised the Bonorupa Bazaar Masjid, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, CNGs-auto rickshaws, motorcycles, shops, and set fire to some shops," reads the ISPR statement.

Both sides, locals and attackers, suffered injuries during the incident.

"Section 144 has been imposed to control the situation," it added.