Miscreants set fire on houses and business establishments in Dighinala, Khagrachari on Friday. Photo: Collected.
Tensions have escalated in Rangamati, a district neighbouring the troubled Khagrachari region, as violent clashes and counter-clashes have left one person dead and over fifty injured.
The identity of the deceased has yet to be confirmed, Dr Sadia Akhtar, duty doctor of Rangamati General Hospital, reports UNB.
To maintain order, District Commissioner Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan announced the imposition of Section 144 in the Rangamati municipal area.
According to local sources, on Friday (20 September) morning, in response to an attack in Dighinala, Khagrachari, local students staged a protest march in Rangamati.
As the procession reached the Bonorupa market, rumours and tension spread throughout the town, creating panic among residents. During this unrest, multiple businesses in Bonorupa market were attacked, and several establishments were set ablaze.
Yesterday, clashes erupted between the local indigenous population and Bengali settlers in Dighinala, destabilizing the area, and leading to incidents of arson in various locations.
At least sixty shops were reported to have been destroyed in the fire at Larma Square.
Meanwhile, at least three people were killed and 17 others injured following arson attacks and violence in Khagrachhari.
The deceased have been identified as Dhananjay Chakma, Rubel Tripura, and Junan Chakma, 20.
They died while undergoing treatment at Adhunik Sadar Hospital.
Ahsan Habib Palash, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Chittagong Range Police, confirmed the incident on Friday.
At around 10:30pm on Thursday, heavy gunfire was heard in several areas of the town, spreading fear throughout the district. The shooting continued late into the night.
Dhananjay Chakma died during the clashes in Dighinala on Thursday evening, while the other two were brought to the hospital from Khagrachhari later that night with injuries.
Ripple Bappi Chakma, resident medical officer (RMO) at Khagrachhari District Hospital, said 15 injured individuals were brought to the hospital late at night, most of them from the town area.
Three of them died, and the cause of death will be confirmed after autopsies. Nine others are currently receiving treatment, he added.
Ripple Bappi Chakma also said that four people were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for better treatment. “There is a Bangali among them. The remaining nine injured belonging to ethnic minorities could be treated at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.”
The attacks followed the death of a Bangali man named Md Mamun. He died in a mob beating following suspicions that he stole a motorcycle in Khagrachhari on Wednesday.
In protest of this incident, Bangali people organized a protest march in Dighinala on Thursday afternoon.
It is alleged that the ethnic minority people attempted to block the march, sparking the clash.
At one point, houses and shops belonging to the group were set on fire, forcing them to flee into the dense hills for safety.
Besides, the district administrations of Khagrachhari and Rangamati have imposed Section 144 in Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila and Rangamati municipality area as violence escalated in those areas on Thursday and Friday.
Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosharaf Hossain Khan said incidents of violence have been reported from various parts of the town. To control the law and order situation, Section 144 has been imposed.
Deputy Commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman of Khagrachhari said Section 144 was imposed to curb the ongoing violence and would remain in force until further notice.
