[🇧🇩] Chittagong Hill Tracts----A Victim of Indian Intervention

[Saif]

https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/319448/sajek-blockade-continues-traders-seek-resolution-as-tourism-suffers

Sajek blockade continues, traders seek resolution as tourism suffers

Our Correspondent . Khagrachari

Protesters pour fuel to a fire on Rangamati-Chattogram road at Betbunia under Kawkhali during a blockade in Rangamati on early Saturday. | Collected photo

The indefinite road blockade in Rangamati’s Sajek valley continued for the third day on Saturday, while a half-day roads-and-waterways blockade was also observed in Rangamati and Khagrachari districts over Thursday’s attack on protesters by security forces in Sajek.

The half-day blockade, called by the Chhatra Janata Sangram Parishad in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, was observed from 5:00am to noon. No clashes were reported in the two districts.

Thursday’s clash between protesters and law enforcement agencies left 60 people injured in Sajek, prompting an indefinite road blockade jointly called by the Sajek Karbari Association and the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rakkha Committee.

Meanwhile, traders in Sajek, a popular tourist destination, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to resolve the situation, warning that the protests were affecting the tourism industry. They also threatened to enforce a counter-blockade if the situation did not improve.

In a statement on Saturday, Chhatra Janata Sangram Parishad President Ushatan Chakma thanked people from all walks of life in Rangamati and Khagrachari, as well as transport owners’ and workers’ organisations, for making the half-day blockade successful.

Ushatan Chakma said that problems in Sajek or the CHT could not be resolved through the use of force by the military. Instead, he said, the problems should be resolved through peaceful discussions involving all parties concerned.

The government should create a democratic environment in the CHT and take initiatives to facilitate peaceful dialogue, he added.

On Saturday evening, the Chhatra Janata Sangram Parishad brought out a torch procession in Bangaltali union under Baghaichari Upazila in Rangamati, protesting against what it called the ‘brutal attack’ on Sajek residents and expressing support for their demands.

The protesters put forward a three-point charter of demands, including the removal of armed members of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti from the area, alleging that local residents had faced threats and harassment.

The PCJSS, however, denied the allegations.​

 

[Saif]

https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/319602/sajek-blockade-on-amid-conflict-resolution-efforts

Sajek blockade on amid conflict resolution efforts
Our Correspondent . Rangamati

The road blockade continued for the 4th day on Sunday in Sajek Valley, a popular tourist destination under Rangamati’s Baghaichhari upazila, with the district administration forming a three-member committee to resolve the crisis.

The committee members are Chittagong Hill Tracts Headman Network vice-president Bhabatosh Dewan, its general secretary Shanti Bijoy Chakma and Langadu Headman Association adviser Kalyan Mitra Chakma.

The newly formed committee is scheduled to hold a meeting with protesters today.

The decision was taken following an emergency meeting at the district administration on Sunday morning while traders at Sajek could not even enter as the blockade continued there.

After a meeting with the district administration, Khagrachhari lawmaker and the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry, Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, said that he expected the crisis would be resolved soon.

Rangamati lawmaker Dipen Dewan also attended the meeting.

On October 22, a clash between protesters and law enforcement agencies left 60 people injured at Sajek, prompting an indefinite road blockade jointly called by the Sajek Karbari Association and the Sajek Gono Odhikar Rakkha Committee, both backed by the UPDF.

Sajek police station officer-in-charge Tofazzal Hossain said that no case was filed over the October 22 incident.

‘Now, the protesters are enforcing their blockade peacefully,’ the OC added.

Sajek Karbari Association president Natunjoy Chakma told New Age that the blockade entered into fourth day and it brought all vehicular movement halted in the area.

The ongoing unrest at Sajek in Rangamati has exposed the deepening power struggle between the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti and the United People’s Democratic Front, with recurring road blockades and armed clashes in the hill district, home to various ethnic groups.

On September 11, PCJSS and UPDF allegedly exchanged heavy gunfire along a 14-kilometre stretch of Sajek Road in Machalong.

They said that another exchange of gunfire took place in the Noyapara area of Machalong on September 25 and such confrontations continued till September 29 in phases.

During the clashes, a nine-year-old national minority girl, Kasmita Tripura, was reportedly suffered gunshots in the Noyapara area of Machalong and Mandirachhara.

Following the incident, UPDF armed members left Bhuyachhari, Chillyatali, Noyapara and Thalkumbha, according to the local people.

Denying the allegations, UPDF spokesperson Angya Marma said, ‘We have always been working to end conflicts. The ruling groups are deliberately targeting us to portray us in a negative light by taking sides with the JSS.’

He said the UPDF was not engaged in any conflict with the JSS and that the Ganatantrik Pratirodh Bahini was confronting them on their behalf.

JSS assistant information and publicity Sajib Chakma said that the Jana Samhati Samiti did not conduct any armed activities and that allegations against the organisation were being made deliberately.

‘I will not make any comment in the internal issue behind the unrest. We are trying to ensure security of local people,’ said Rangamati district deputy commissioner Nazma Ashrafi.

Asked about the power struggle between PCJSS and UPDF behind Sajek unrest, the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate said in a written reply that Bangladesh Army always remained committed to combating armed miscreant groups.

‘Our primary objective is to ensure the safety and security of innocent populations of CHT and maintain peace and stability in the region,’ the ISPR said.​

 

[Saif]

Police report shooting between UPDF, JSS in Rangamati

Intermittent gunfire erupted for about an hour between the UPDF (Prasit) and the JSS (Santu Larma) in Sajek Union of Rangamati’s Baghaichhari Upazila, police have said. The firing was intermittent throughout the one-hour period on Saturday, reports bdnews24.com. The exchange took place in t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Police report shooting between UPDF, JSS in Rangamati

Intermittent gunfire erupted for about an hour between the UPDF (Prasit) and the JSS (Santu Larma) in Sajek Union of Rangamati’s Baghaichhari Upazila, police have said.

The firing was intermittent throughout the one-hour period on Saturday, reports bdnews24.com.

The exchange took place in the remote Kalabunia area between noon and 1pm, around 20km from Sajek Police Station, officer Tofazzal Hossain said.​