Arrest of Romel Chakma's'killers' demanded
Demonstrators in the capital yesterday demanded immediate arrest and punishment of individuals involved in the death of Romel Chakma, an HSC examinee from Rangamati.
A platform of left-leaning organisations, “Citizens against Repression”, made the demand at a rally in front of the National Museum, alleging that Romel, aged 20, died “in the hands of the army”.
Romel, a leader of Pahari Chhatra Parishad, was picked up from a village market in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati.
It remains unclear how the visually impaired youth died. His death sparked protests in the hill tracts as well as in Dhaka.
On April 22, Lt Col Mohammad Rashidul Hasan, Director of ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations), said Romel was picked up in connection with two cases filed over torching a truck and looting two buses. They had handed Romel over to Naniarchar police the same day, the ISPR official told The Daily Star over the phone.
Denying the allegation of torture on Romel by the army, he added that the young man had died on April 19 at Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he was being treated in police custody.
The National Human Rights Commission recently formed a three-member facts-finding committee over the death of the student of Naniarchar College.
Rights body Manusher Jonno Foundation and Ain o Salish Kendra demanded a judicial investigation into Romel's death.
Addressing the rally, Anu Muhammad -- a professor of Jahangirnagar University and member secretary of National Committee to Save Oil, Gas, Power and Port -- demanded investigation of all killings in the hill districts. He also demanded that the government resolve the land issue in the three hill districts.
Foyzul Hakim Lala, general secretary, Jatiya Mukti Council, called upon all to get united and protest the killing of Romel.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union (BCU) General Secretary Liton Nandi, publisher Robin Ahsan, former president of BCU Baki Billah, among other spoke at the rally.
Meanwhile, a candle lighting programme of Greater Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad of Chittagong University unit was allegedly foiled yesterday by the authorities of the CU with the help of police, reports our CU correspondent.
The CU unit of the Parishad organised the programme in front of CU Central Shaheed Minar at 7:00pm yesterday, to protest the killing of Romel Chakma. Within five to ten minutes after the candle lighting programme started, the CU authorities and the police extinguished the candles to foil the programme, alleged Sunayon Chakma, president of CU unit of the Parishad.
However, Inspector Akhtaruzzaman, in-charge of CU police outpost, refuted the claim of their involvement in foiling the programme. Liton Mitra, assistant proctor of the CU, said the organisers of the programme did not acquire prior approval from the CU authorities.
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