Road blocked to protest army pullout
Bangalee settlers in Rangamati yesterday put up barricades near Dighalchhari army camp under Barkal upazila demanding alternative security arrangements after the withdrawal of army camps from Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
They put up barricade by gathering at least 10 engine and rowing boats on the strip of Kaptai Lake, the entrance of Dighalchhari camp.
Around 2,000 protesters also barred Barkal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) AKM Tariqul Alam from leaving the campsite for a couple of hours demanding guarantee of alternative security. They later let the UNO and four accompanying journalists leave upon verbal assurance.
The UNO was there to oversee the process of dismantling the camp as a part of the government decision to pull out an army brigade and 35 makeshift camps from the three districts in line with CHT Peace Accord.
Contacted, Tarikul Alam said he suggested that the locals submit an application to the deputy commissioner seeking security arrangement in the area. He, however, said he did not feel any security crisis due to the withdrawal of the camp.
Meanwhile, army officials handed the campsite over to the UNO in absence of the landowner Suva Lal Chakma.
After dismantling the Dighalchhari camp, which was set up in April 1981 and approximately 40 kilometres from Rangamati district headquarters, a total of 100 troops along with their belongings left for Chittagong Cantonment.
Untill yesterday, a total of five military camps in Rangamati -- three under Kaptai brigade and two under Rangamati brigade, were withdrawn.
Our Khagrachhari correspondent reports: Troops from Pomangpara camp in the district were withdrawn yesterday while moving troops from Chhantilla under Panchhari has also started and is expected to be completed by today.
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