Curfew again in tense Rangamati

An army jeep patrols an empty road in Kalyanpur area of Rangamati yesterday as the hill town remains tense following clashes between indigenous people and Bangalee settlers. Photo: Star

An all-night curfew was imposed in Rangamati again yesterday.

The town was placed under curfew from 7:30pm till 8:00am on Sunday after clashes broke out between indigenous and Bangalee youths.

Though no big untoward incident took place yesterday with the army, Border guards and police deployed at key points, the district administration clamped the fresh curfew -- effective from 5:00pm for 14 hours. 

In day time, Section 144 prohibiting public gatherings remained enforced. Roads were almost empty; no vehicles except for a few motorbikes were noticed. Shops were mostly closed.

All the market places have been shut for over two days, leaving people faced with crisis of daily goods. Small shops in lanes and bi-lanes are already running out of oil, onions, eggs, salt and vegetables, locals said.

Law enforcers have arrested some 35 people for defying Sunday night's curfew. However, police declined to provide details about the arrestees.

“The situation is under control. There will be no curfew if the situation improves further,” Shamsul Arefin, deputy commissioner, Rangamati told journalists.

Of those injured in Sunday's clash, at least seven were admitted to the Rangamati General Hospital, said the resident medical officer of the hospital. An injured cop was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as his conditions deteriorated.

Amid curfew on Sunday, a group of Bangalee youths tried to attack on Maitree Bihar and Ananda Bihar in Rangamati town. Another group tried to attack and threw brickbats on the office of regional council as they came to know some indigenous employees were stuck there. However, law enforcers foiled both of the attempts.  

Indigenous youths also that day vandalised and torched three shops located at Bhedbhedi area.

It all started after pro-Awami League students and youth bodies attacked on a blockade called by Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) protesting inauguration of academic activities of a new Medical college in Rangamati.

Meanwhile, at a protest rally on Dhaka University campus, speakers alleged that Awami League leader Dipangkar Talukder of Rangamati provoked activists of Chhatra League to attack on “peaceful blockade” programme of PCP.