DEMONSTRATIONS have been held in Rangamati, Khagrachari and Dhaka in protest against the yesterday’s settler attack on Jumma villages in Longudu, Rangamati.
A Hill Women’s Federation leader has been badly hurt when members of the Village Defense Party (VDP) attacked a UPDF demonstration in Kudukchari, Rangamati. The army also arrested a young student demonstrator, UPDF leaders said.
The protest demonstrations were held after the Hill Students Council postponed its student rally for right to primary education in ethnic nationalities’ own languages scheduled to be held today.
UPDF has called for a half-day road and waterways blockade for tomorrow in Rangamati district.
Rangamati
Ms Bipasha Chakma, a HWF leader, was injured when the VDP personnel attacked a demonstration without provocation in Kudukchari. She has been admitted to a hospital in Chittagong.
The VDPs also took part in widespread lootings in Kudukchari bazaar.
Hundreds of people attended the UPDF rally that began at 11am. A procession followed the rally at 12 noon.
When the procession reached Kudukchari Bridge the VDPs attacked it, injuring Bipasha seriously. She sustained injuries in her head.
The military and VDP personnel also raided and ransacked the UPDF office and took away all the documents from there.
They also looted a furnisher shop belonging to Ram Prashad Chakma, three grocery shops belonging to Swadhin Chandra Chakma, Akshoy Chandra Chakma and Shanti Ranjan Chakma and smashed Dipti Digital Studio.
The army broke into and searched the house of Shonkatish Barua, and snatched a mobile hand set from Kiron Dhar, his tenant.
Dipon Chakma, a class nine student, was also arrested during the raid.
Road blockade
The UPDF has called for a blockade of roads and waterways in Rangamati district for tomorrow to protest the Longudu attack. The call was made from Kudukchari rally.
The blockade will last from 6am till 2pm. However, ambulances, fire service, vehicles supplying emergency life saving drugs and carrying media persons will be exempt from the blockade.
Khagrachari
Peoples on their way to attend a protest rally were stopped at various points in Khagrachari.
The army and police stopped 4 jeeps at Matiranga, 3 in Bhaibone Chara and 2 in Zero Mile. The jeeps were carrying UPDF supporters.
Huge contingents of army and police were also deployed at different locations of Khagrachari town including Swanirbhor area.
They ordered all the owners of decoration shops not to sell their services to the UPDF.
Despite such hindrances, the UPDF took out a procession from Khabangpujjya and held a rally at Kashem’s Saw Mill area.
President of Democratic Youth Forum Khagrachari district unit Remin Chakma, vice president of PCP central committee Kyala Ching Marma and president of PCP Khagrachari district unit Apruchi Marma addressed the rally.
Terming the attacks on Jumma villages in Longude as despicable, they said the ultra-communalist forces use every single pretext -- right or wrong – to mount attacks on Jumma people. The Longudu attack followed the set pattern.
The leaders directed scathing criticism at the role of the local administration, saying the Border Guards Bangladesh personnel had in fact provided support to the settlers instead of dissuading them.
The settlers set 24 houses including a Unicef-run Para Kendra (village centre) on fire, they alleged.
Dhaka
Protest demonstrations were also held at Muktangon in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh.
The Hill Students Council organised these demos.
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Source : chtnews.com
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